LIFE OF CHARLES T. WALKER, D. D., ("THE BLACK SPURGEON.") PASTOR MT. OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW YORK CITY. BY SILAS XAVIER FLOYD, A. M. WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY ROBERT STUART MacARTHUR, D. D. NASHVILLE, TENN.s NATIONAL BAPTIST PUBLISHING BOARD. 1902. Entered According to Act of Congress, in the Year 1902, jst Charles T. Walker. DR. CHARGES T. WALKER, 44 YEAKS OF AGE. INTRODUCTION. There is no species of literary composition more difficult than the writing of a good biography. Biographers are under a great temptation at times to create, or at least to magnify, the virtues of their subjects; and the temptation is not less on other occasions to deny, or greatly to minify, their vices. The biographies of Holy Scripture are models of biographical literary production. Inspired writers neither extenuate the defects nor magnify the ex¬ cellencies of their subjects; extenuating nothing on the one hand, they do not, on the other, set down aught in malice. The excel¬ lence of the inspired writings in this regard differentiates them from the uninspired writings of any country or century. But while to biographize is a confessedly difficult task, it is at the same time universally admitted to be a form of literary pro¬ duction of great value, when properly executed. A biography is generally understood to> be the history of the life, actions and character of a particular person; it is that form of history proper whose subject is described in the facts and events of his individual experience. Carlyle, in his "Sartor Resartus," says: "Biogra¬ phy is by nature the most universally profitable, universally pleas¬ ant of all things." He also elsewhere says: "There is no heroic poem in the world but is at bottom a biography, the life of a man." He has frequently expressed the idea that history is biography; 5 6 Introduction. that the history of any nation is the story of the lives of its great men. In a profound sense this statement is literally true. We thus see that peculiar ability is required accurately to write the life of any representative man. His forbears for many generations ought to be accurately known; his environment, in all its essential characteristics, ought to be thoroughly mastered. The times partly make men, and men partly make their time; each acts and reacts upon the other. Neither can be exhaustively described independ¬ ent of the other. The difficulty of writing good biographies is so great that com¬ paratively few great biographies have been written. All the world is familiar with the unique biography of Johnson by Boswell. It has excited hearty laughter, while it has imparted valuable in¬ formation. Loclchart's Life of Scott and Lady Holland's Life of Sydney Smith, fill almost a unique place in biographical litera¬ ture. G. Otto Trevelyan's Life of Lord Macaulay and Hallam Tennyson's Life of his father are among the more recent and valuable illustrations of the biographical literature of modern times. The word biography comes from two Greek words, bios, life, and graphein, to write. In order that there should be a good biography, it is necessary, therefore, that there should be a life * nobly lived, and a writer competent to describe it in fitting terms. In the biography of Rev. Charles T. Walker, D. D., by Rev. Silas X. Floyd, D. D., both these conditions are excellently met. By his careful literary training, his wide experience as a writer, and his intimate knowledge of the history of Dr. Walker, Dr. Floyd is eminently fitted to write a readable account of Dr. Walker's life Introduction! 7 and work: - He- has' bedn associated in newspaper, pastoral and evangelistic work with Dr. Walker for the past twenty years. When Dr. Walker "was business manager of the Augusta Senti¬ nel, Dr. Floyd was its editor;'end when Dr. Walker resigned the pastorate of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Augusta, Ga., Dr. Floyd became his succssor. He thus has had unusual op¬ portunities to study Dr. Walker's public and private life day by day for nearly a quarter of a century. Dr. Floyd is a graduate of Atlanta University, Georgia, from which institution he received the degree of A. M., three years after his graduation. For three years jie;was employed by the International Sunday "School Con¬ vent-ion as one of its Field Workers in the South. He is at pres¬ ent in the employ of the American Baptist Publication Society as a Missionary for Georgia and Alabama. The degree of "Doctor of Divinity'' was conferred" upon him by 'Morris Brown College, Atlanta, .Ga.,' Tune 4, 1902. There is probably no other Negro in the United States, and perhaps *no other in the world, wiio> is a better subj ect for a biog¬ raphy than Charles T. Walker. ' Many will affirm that Booker T. Washington' is the most prominent representative of his race in America; doubtless, in his special department" of effort for his people, he is. the. representatve Negro. But all intellieent men, black or white, familiar with the facts, will say that Dr. Walker is the ablest Negro preacher aiid pastor in the United States. His- racial characteristics are so strongly emphasized that the most bitter opponent of his race cannot attribute his acknowledged ability as thinker, writer and preacher to any interfusion of white blood in his veins. He is a Negro in every drop of his blood. Dr. Walker had careful training as a preparation for. the work of 8 Introduction. the gospel ministry. Too many men, both white and black, rush into the ministry with quite inadequate preparation. The time has come when the apostolic injunction, "Lay hands suddenly on no man," must be literally obeyed. This injunction is especially important in its relation to preachers and pastors of Negro churches. They are the natural and powerful leaders of their people. This is a transition' period for the millions of the Negro race in America. Tremendously important racial problems are now demanding solution. Whites and blacks, both North and South, must have great patience with one another in the presence of these pulsing problems. Right solutions will eventually come; "and all men must remember that no question is settled truly until it is settled rightly. Dr. Wfalker has been an earnest student ever since his school days. He has traveled widely, read extensively and thought profoundly. In all these respects he has set a good example to all preachers and pastors. There is no standing still in profes¬ sional life. If a man does not advance, he must retrograde; if he does not grow up, he must grow down. Every preacher is like a man on a bicycle—he must go on constantly or go off speedily. Dr. Walker's ministry in New York has been remarkable for pulpit power and for practical results. His ministry in this city is a distinct accession to the pulpit force of the entire church, irrespective of denominational divisions and creedal distinctions. Perhaps in the entire history of the city no pastor of any church ever had so many accessions to the membership of his church in the same length of time as Dr. Walker has had. A great future still awaits his ministerial labors. Marvellous possibilities are before his race in America. Booker Washing- Introduction. 9 ton, Dr. Walker, and a few great Negroes, are wisely training their people for a noble future; they are teaching their people that the time for pitying them, and coddling them, as well as for abus¬ ing, not to say lynching, them has passed, never to return. They must take their place as men and women among ,the men and women of,the hour. They are to be neither babied nor bullied; neither petted nor pampered; they ought only to expect and de¬ mand simple justice; on their behalf these great leaders demand nothing more, and they will be satisfied with nothing less. To deny them simple justice would be an unspeakable reproach to the dominant race in America. Dr. Walker's greatest days as preacher and pastor are still in the future. That he and his race may worthily perform their whole duty, and grandly attain their high destiny is the sincere desire of every true man, earnest pa¬ triot, and devout Christian. This volume ought to be widely circulated and generally studied. It will give genuine inspiration to all men, white or black, who are struggling for higher and better things for time and eternity. Its general circulation' will greatly help the Negro toward the realization of his laudable ambitions as a man, a citi¬ zen and a churchman. Robert Stuart MacArthur. Study, Cavalry Baptist Church, New York. DEDICATION. To THE YOCNG MEN OF TJ1E N EG 110 HAVE IN AMEBIC A '/'his Volume Is Iiespertfii//// Dedicated bi/ THE ATJTIJOB. PREFHCE. For the combination of shrewd common sense, fine executive ability, ready speech, genial acceptance of conditions, optimistic faith in the future of his race and self-sacrificing zeal in their be¬ half, Booker T. Washington stands easily first among the nine million Negroes of America. The greatest claim that has yet been made by the Negro in English Literature, according to the most competent critics, has been made by Paul Laurence Dunbar, who, for the first time in our language, has given literary interpre¬ tation of a very artistic completeness to what passes in the hearts and minds of a lowly people. The greatest claim that has been made by the Negro in the field of scholarship has been made by W. E. Burghardt DuBois, Ph. D., the eminent sociologist. But not more certain is it that Washington stands first in the list of Negro educators, and Dunbar first in the list of Negro poets and literary men, and DuBois first among scholars, than that the Rev. Charles T. Walker, D. D., who is popularly called "The Black Spurgeon," stands first among eminent and successful Negro preachers. Dr. Walker's father died the day before Dr Walker was born. His mother died when he was only eight years old. The first seven years of his life he was a slave. Becoming an orphan one year after emancipation, the years of his youth and voung manhood 11 12 Preface. were years of great hardship and privation. In this respect, his early life resembled that of other distinguished men of humble origin who have been a power in the world, and whose names have an honorable place on the pages of history. The prophetic reference to Christ, "Though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel," has been paralleled in human lives by a host of men whose names and deeds are recorded in history, sacred and profane. From the anointing of the Bethlehemite shepherd boy as King of Israel to the present time, history has furnished innumer¬ able illustrations of the providential selection of men from obscure localities and unpretentious surroundings for great responsibilities and important fields of influence. Again and again, in the his¬ tory of our own country, we have had memorable examples of men who have left an undying influence, whose early life was without friends, and whose heritage was void of patrimony. Abraham Lincoln, James A. Garfield, Benjamin Franklin, Frederick Doug¬ lass, George W. Childs, Henry Wilson, Stephen Girard, Horace Greeley, and a host of others were such men. One of the most profitable uses of history is the narrative of such lives. Having this in mind, it is safe to say that there is no species of writing of more value than biography. It inspires the young to nobler purposes, develops higher resolves, and proves an incentive to the laudable imitation of men who1 im prominent positions have proved true to principle and duty. It is in this spirit and with this thought in mind, that I undertake to write the story of the life of Dr. Walker. I confess to a great degree of admiration for the man; I glory in his career; I thought that the Preface. 13 story of his life ought to be told; I believe that the telling of his life story will do much to encourage, inspire and incite to new en¬ deavor thousands of young colored men all over the land, who need to be encouraged and inspired, and who, because of the peculiar environments of American civilization, find so little to incite them to high resolves, honest endeavors and upright lives. If, therefore, the story of Dr. Walker's life as told by me shall en¬ courage, inspire or incite one single human being, I shall have my reward. Sii unhappy wives, thereby making both happy again ; the young people he has sent to school and has helped to educate; the men and women for whom he has se¬ cured employment; those he has brought to Christ by private ministrations; the number he has encouraged and cheered by a kind act or a "word fitly spoken ;" the number he has helped and Life of Dr. Walker. 53 inspired in one way and another, will reach far into the thousands. The number cannot be known ' Until the sttn grows cold, And the stars are old, And the leaves of the Judgment Book unfold." Dr. Walker did these things as if by second nature, and, though now and then friends remonstrated with him and told him that he ought not to allow others to impose upon him, he went straight ahead, quietly and unostentatiously, spending and being spent for the Master, and his heart filled with the milk of human kindness, he lent a listening ear and an outstretched arm to* every cry for pity and every appeal for help. THE TABERNACLE OLD FOLKS' HOME, AUGUSTA, GA., FOUNDED BY DK. CHARLES T. WALKER. CHAPTER VII. INFLUENCE IN GEORGIA. In spite of his arduous labors and duties at Augusta, Dr. Walker yet found time to be interested in all matters which concerned the welfare of all the people throughout the Staf^ of Georgia, and was an active participant in many State gatherings of various kinds, aside from the large number of evangelistic meetings he found time to conduct in many Georgia cities. For several years he was Moderator of the Western Union Baptist Association; for four or five years he was Chairman of the Ex¬ ecutive Board of the Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia; for two years he was Vice President, and for eight years Secre¬ tary of the same body; he was Treasurer for several years of the Sunday School Workers' Convention of Georgia; he was at one time Vice President of the Georgia Interdenominational Sunday School Convention; he was for a number of years a member of the Republican State Executive Committee; he has been, from the beginning, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Walker Baptist Institute, and was also a member of the Board of Trus¬ tees of the Atlanta Baptist College. The filling of these various offices of trust and responsibility indicate in a small way the im¬ mense activity which he has displayed in the general welfare of the State, and particularly the welfare of the Baptist denomination, In addition to these things, there has not been a convention of 55 50 Life of Dr. Walker. any kind called by the colored citizens of Georgia, as has fre¬ quently been the case during the past twenty years, which he has not attended, anxious always to do something to advance the Ne¬ gro'in the scale of civilization. He has many times visited the annual meetings of the State Teachers' Association of Georgia and, by invitation, has adressed them, trying to show what part the teachers ought to take in solving the so-called "Race Prob¬ lem." He has been a favorite commencement orator at many of Georgia's schools and colleges, and has never been able in any one year to accept all the numerous invitations which have come to him to deliver baccalaureate sermons. On the first day of January each year, it is customary for the colored people through¬ out the South to hold public meetings, where addresses are deliv¬ ered by distinguished men, in commemoration of the issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation by Abraham Lincoln, Jan. ist, 1863. Dr. Walker's addresses, delivered at different places in the State on Emancipation Day, would alone make a -very large and interesting volume. Nor has he felt that his duties as a preacher have of necessity absolved him from active participation in public affairs, or what is more generally called politics. He was for years a member of the Richmond County Executive Com¬ mittee of the Republican Party, and also a member of the Repub¬ lican State Committee. He has believed and has taught that it is the duty of every citizen to be interested in the political welfare of his city, State and country, and, in his judgment, no man is entitled to be called a good citizen who allows the vicious and corrupt to do all the voting and all the dictating, and then sits down and sighs for what is called "the better and purer days of the Republic." Of his work as an evangelist, mention will be Life of Dr. Walker. 57 made in a later chapter. But let it be said now that no one man in Georgia has held a larger number of special meetings through¬ out the State, nor has had a larger number of conversions to be attributed to his preaching, than has Dr. Walker. . It is not ex¬ aggeration to say that he is the best known Negro minister of the State of Georgia, and that more people will go to hear him preach than will go to hear any other colored man. Not the celebrated, plain-spoken, claw and hammer preaching of Sam Jones, nor the Holy Ghost preaching of the pious Dwight L. Moody, of sainted memory, drew larger crowds to the auditorium at Ex¬ position Park, Atlanta, Ga., than did the thunderous proclama¬ tion of the gospel bv Charles T. Walker. Perhaps in no way has his influence been felt in' Georgia more than in the selection of competent men for Baptist pastorates and in the appointment of competent men and women as teachers at many places in the State. Dr. Walker's reputation as a safe leader and wise counsellor, his expensive travels a"d consequent wide ac¬ quaintance with men and women throughout the State and na¬ tion have proved to be very helpful to all concerned in the rec¬ ommendations he has been asked to' make. No one in Georgia who knows of these things can recall a single instance in which the recommendation of Dr. Walker, in the case of a church or school, has been turned down. So interested has Dr. Walker been in the welfare of others, and so eager has he been to see competent leaders set over the people, that he has been known time and. again to go 500, 600, and sometimes 1,000 miles at his own expense to assi-t those who needed and asked his opinion and "advice, or to help some person to secure a position. Not all of those whom he has helped have been grateful; not all of them will ad- 58 Life of Dr. Walker. mit their obligation; only a few of them remember the bridge that carried them over. When told of the ungratefulness of different ones, Dr. Walker only laughs' and says: "I do not help anybody with the expectation of being thanked. It is my duty to do my duty toward my fellow men, whether they thank me or not." Thus he dismisses the subject, and goes to talking about something els'e. Several times larger churches in Georgia, that could pay him more monev than Tabernacle Baptist Church, ex¬ tended calls to him to occupy their pulpits, but he always replied that Tabernacle Church was good enough for him, and then would assist the churches in securing good men. Such unself¬ ishness is rare, and has helped very much to perpetuate the hold which Dr. Walker has had on the people of Georgia for so many years. CHAPTER VIII. THE VISIT TO THE HOLY LAND. Tabernacle Baptist Church, Augusta, Ga., was the first col¬ ored church in this country to send its pastor on a trip to Europe and the Holy Land. This it did in the Spring of 1891. The church voted Dr. Walker a vacation of three months, with full pay, and the church and friends in Augusta, white and colored, furnished money with which to enable him to take the memorable journey. His church was supplied during his absence by the Rev. L. B. Goodall, at that time of Augusta, Ga., now of Charlottesville, Va, He left Augusta Thursday afternoon, April 9th, 1891, and sailed from New York City on Wednesday, April 15th, at 11 o'clock, a. m., on the steamsh/'p City of New York, bound for Liverpool. He was accompanied as far as London by the Rev. E. R. Carter, D. D., of Atlanta, Ga., and Prof. M. J. Maddox. at that time, of Gainesville, Fla., now of Savannah, Ga. He visited Liverpool, London, Paris, Turin, Genoa, Pisa, Rome, Pompeii, Alexandria, Cairo, Ismoiila, Fort Said, Joppa, Jerusalem, Bethle¬ hem, Hebron, Jerichr, Bethany, Mount of Olives, Getbsemane, Calvary, Beirut, Cyprus, Smyrna, Ephesus, Pierus, Athens, Cor¬ inth, Venice, Patras, Corfu, Brindisi, Basle, Hiedelberg, May- ence, Cologne, Coblenz, Brussels, Antwerp, and some few othe>' places. Dr. Carter accompanied him during the entire yournev. He returned to New York on Saturday, June 27th, 1891, and reached Augusta on the fourth day of July. 59 60 Life of Dr. Walker. Before leaving New York on his way to the Holy Land, he preached twice on the Sabbath at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, and, at the request of the pastor and officers, he preached again on Monday night, April 13th. The ghurch gave him a liberal contri¬ bution to help him on his way, and he departed with their best wishes and with irany prayers for a safe journey and a safe re¬ turn. The following account taken from the Augusta Evening News, of July 6th, 1891, will give some idea of Dr. Walker's reception on his return to Augusta: "]SETHKL " "The impressions of an intelligent, zealous and popular colored minister about the Holy Land are well worth hearing and record¬ ing. "The Evening News has abeady announced the return of the Rev. Chas. T. Walker from his three months' trip abroad, and, indeed, has kept up with him pretty well in his great journey in Life of Dr. Walker. 61 Ford of the riykr Jordan. Europe, Asia and Africa. The paper was glad to commend him 011 his departure, and welcomed his return, and these cour¬ tesies are both deserved and appreciated. A man who is so highly regarded by his congregation and friends that he is given such a trip, and whose influence is all for good among his- peo¬ ple in this community, certainly deserves consideration and cour¬ tesy. Hence, more space than ordinary is given to this promi¬ nent and popular leader among his people. "A genuine and hearty welcome was given Mr. Walker by his congregation, and yesterday he preached to his church for the first time in three months. Last night he gave an outline of his trip through the Holy Land, and promised half hour talks about places, semes and customs for every Sunday evening. 62 Life of Dr. Walker. "After reading of the Queen of Sheba's visit to Solomon, he took his text from the famous words, 'the half has not been told,' and declared that those words expressed his ideas about the Holy Land. He did not go into details about his journey, but with a wonderful power of seizing upon leading scenes and incidents and putting them before his audience, with their vivid illustrations and comforting lessons, the preacher held his sheepfold. vast congregation spellbound for about an hour. It was in it¬ self a scene well worth witnessing, to behold this earnest and really eloquent man, with his deep and resonant voice, and gen¬ uinely magnetic manner, telling his story to breathless and sym¬ pathetic listeners, who crowded every inch of sitting and stand¬ ing room in the church. This ovation was a great compliment to the humble man of God, who spoke in grateful terms of those who had sent him on his memorable journey; and every one of his people must have felt fully repaid when, in summing up the results of his trip and the analysis of his observations, he declared that, after seeing and investigating the Holy Land for himself, lu Life of Dr. Walker. 63 BABYLON. felt more than ever that God's word was true. If any one i> sceptical about the Bible, its history and its sacred truths ana traditions, said this preacher, let him go to Palestine, and he will be sceptical no longer. "He also went to Egypt, which is scriptural land, where Moses, the greatest law-maker of the earth, was born, and where Joseph and Abraham, and even Jesus went, and he followed their foot¬ steps back into Palestine, through Joppa, the gateway to Jerusa¬ lem, as it also became, through Peter's vision, the dooi way of the Gentiles to God's kingdom. The preacher then described the great astronomical miracle performed by Joshua on the plain of Ajalon, when he commanded the sun and moon to stand still; Life of Dr. Walker. lie made graphic references to his journey along the famous highway over which the Roman Emperors and the Christian Crusaders traveled to the Holy City.. Jerusalem, with its four mountains, its old walls, its eight gates, its well-remembered streets, was particularly dwelt upon, and the speaker declared that it was hard for him to realize that he was actually in the great city where the prophets walked, which was blessed by the Saviour's presence and consecrated by his crucifixion. He went straight to Calvary, he said, and his description of Calvary, as the greatest battle field the world ever saw, was very interesting, and was one of the most eloquent and vivid¬ ly touching portions of his discourse. The effrct on th»j Life of Dr. Walker. 65 AN EASTERN HARVEST SCENE. audience was realistic and remarkable. The people leaned for¬ ward, and as the preacher alluded to Calvary as the greatest bat¬ tle-field the world ever saw and said that the cross was its eternal monument, murmurs and shouts of approval went up all over the house. "The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Tomb of the Saviour, Gethsemane, the Brook Kedron, and the Mount of Olives, were in turn dwelt upon; and the minister said that as he bowed and wept at the Saviour's Tomb, he arose refreshed and wrote in his note-book: 'Thank God, he is a resurrected Jesus.' "In describing the River Jordan, in which he bathed while he was there, and which he visited. at the points ...where r Joshua 66 Life of Dr. Walker. passed over, where Elijah ascended in the chariot, where Naa- man was healed, and where Christ was baptized by John, the preacher was again inspired, as he described what he said was the most glorious convocation that ever took place on earth—when the Trinity met at the Saviour's baptism. "In impressing the truth of the Scriptures, Mr. Walker used several striking illustrations. He said that the old prophecies BAPTIZING IN THE RIVER JORDAN. were coming true, and' that even the Turks, in their ignorance, were fulfilling prophecy. They keep the Golden Gate—the Gate Beautiful—always closed, the only one entering Jerusalem which is never opened, because the superstitious' believe that if the Chris¬ tians ever enter by it, they will retake the city ; but the minister declared that the real reason was that it was a fulfillment of Eze- Life of Dr. Walker. *67 ARAB ENCAMPMENT. kiel's prophecy found in the forty-fourth chapter of his writings. Again, Jeremiah said, twenty-five hundred years ago, that 'Zion shall be ploughed like a field.' The people of a then rich and pow¬ erful city came near stoning him for his madness, and yet the speaker declared, with his own eyes he had seen the fulfillment of this prophecy. Jeremiah also declared that Zicn should be rebuilt, and on the unearthed ruins of the very towers indicated by Jere¬ miah, the rebuilding of Jerusalem had been begun. To-day, they are rebuilding, as the prophet said. In Jerusalem and all through Palestine, the record speaks in solemn, sacred and rock- ribbed confirmation of the blessed and everlasting truth of God's word. "The preacher concluded vith a strong invocation, and declared that after all his journeyings over oceans and seas, there was no sailing like sailing with Jesus, and he had come back home with sevenfold more of the spirit of the Saviour to stir up the people 68 Life of Dr. Walker. of the city with the truth of the Gospel. We all need more power and less form; more of the power of Charles Spurgeon, whose power and influence and magnetism come from com¬ muning with God. "He paid a telling tribute to this country when he said that he would not exchange it for any he had seen. He contrasted the terrors and persecutions of heathen lands with the glorious lib¬ erty of America, where Christian churches raised their spires to heaven, and all men may worship God according to the dictates of their own consciences, and under their own vine and fig tree. Where there is no church there is no civilization, and he wanted his people to appreciate their advantages, and aid him by doing their duty to God and their fellow men." Besides his talks and lectures to the people of Augusta, Dr. Walker spent much time during the summer and winter of 1891 lecturing throughout the United States on " The Holy Land: What I Saw and Heard." Everywhere the lecture and the lec¬ turer were well received and highly spoken of—in New York, in Boston, in Philadelphia, in Indianapolis, in Charleston, S. C.: in St. Louis, in Dallas and Galveston, Tex., in Kansas City, and in other places. Dr. Walker's success 011 the lecture platform was immediate, and, since 1891, he has managed each year to go on a little lecture tour through different parts of America. CHAPTER IX. A COLORED MAN ABROAD. Mention has already been made of the fact that while Dr. Walker was traveling abroad he wrote weekly letters to the Au¬ gusta Sentinel, which were compiled on his return and published in book form, under the name and style of "A Colored Man Abroad." Extracts from that publication will serve not only to show Dr. Walker's literary style, but will also be of interest, in¬ struction and entertainment to the reader. Dr. Walker's letters from the Holy Land were written for the most part from notes taken on the ground, somewhat as one would keep a diary or a sailor's log. The second day out from New York, he paid the following TRIBUTE TO THE SEA. "The sea is a revelation of the omnipotence of the Almighty! It carries with perfect ease upon its bosom the greatest ships that circumnavigate the globe. It is the home of numerous animals, small and great, as well as the pathway of Jehovah. It is also the tomb of hundreds of thousands of human beings; for the sea has wrecked hundreds of vessels and sailing craft, and holds en¬ tombed the bodies of countless1 shipwrecked people. As we look at the sea, we are reminded of the grand old words of Byron: 'Roll on, thou deep and dark blue ocean, roll, Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain; 69 70 Life of Dr. Walker. Man marks the earth with ruin,—his control Stops with the shore,—upon the watery plain The wrecks are all thy deed, nor doth remain A shadow of man's ravage, save his own, When for a moment, like a drop of rain, lie sinks into thy depth with bubbling groan, Without a grave, unknelled, uncoffined and unknown.' " In the following words, Dr. Walker describes his first sabbath at sea. "It is Sunday morning. The day is calm, and the sun is shining brightly. Divine services were held in the chapel at 10:3c) a. m., conducted by the captain, who read the Episcopal service. A Sabbath at sea is a sad day to those who love the house of God. No church bell is heard calling the people to their respective places of worship. No soul-inspiring anthems are sung. No heartfelt prayers are heard ascending like sweet incense from the altar of praise. We miss the pulpit ministration and the Chris¬ tian greeting that come from the gentle throbbing of loving and affectionate hearts. We miss the Sunday school, where the lit¬ tle folks are singing their many beautiful songs, expressive of our dear Saviour's life and love. In place of all this, we observe men drinking and carousing and engaged in all kinds of frivolity; we see many women and girls reading novels, but not one perus¬ ing the Bible. Give me no more Sabbaths in mid-ocean." The first Sunday in London, Dr. Walker visited Spurgeon's church. Following is his description of spurgeon's tabernacix "Spurgeon's Tabernacle is the greatest church on earth, and its pastor is undoubtedly the grandest preacher in the universe. Eternity alone can tell the good this man of God is doing. Seven Life of Dr. Walker. 71 thousand people hear him twice on each Lord's Day. He has a Baptist College, perfect in its every appointment, a missionary society, a tract society, a place for the poor, an orphan home, a mission station conducted by the young men of his congregation, a printing press, and everything else in the line of an active, live and progressive church. Here the 'rich and the poor meet to¬ gether ; and the Lord is the maker of them all.' The doctrine of the fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man is taught with all the earnestness of which this goocjl man is capable. In this Tabernacle, you will find men and women who are worth thousands and ten thousands of pounds sterling out in the streets and alleys of London, bringing the poor, the wayward, the blas¬ phemer, the halt and the blind to hear Spurgeon preach. We heard him on the Sabbath, occupying a seat near him. What a privilege! Two rows of galleries extend all round the edifice. Just below the pastor's stand, there is a gallery for orphan chil¬ dren from the home and those who manage the home. The peo¬ ple are rushing for seats—thousands are already seated, having been admitted because they held quarterly tickets. At five min¬ utes before eleven o'clock, the signal bell is tapped, announcing to all persons who have not secured seats to get them anywhere they can find them, as the holders of tickets have no claim on seats after the tap of the bell. Mr. Spurgeon comes in, followed by his assistant pastor and deacons who take seats near him. He then opens the service with a short, earnest, eloquent prayer that moves many to tears. No organ is used; the chorister stands near the pastor, and the multitude rises and sings a soul-inspiring hymn. The pastor then reads, with exposition, the Scripture les¬ son. He announces this morning that he will preach the annual 72 Life of Dr. Walker. missionary sermon. When he begins preaching, seven thousand pairs of eyes are looking steadfastly upon him. He leads the vast audience step by step as he unfolds to them the word of God. Every hearer's heart burns within him. It is a grand sight. I wept as I looked on such a vast throng of people seated in breath¬ less silence, catching the words as they fell from the mouth of God's prophet." In the month of May, 1891, Dr. Walker spent five days on the Mediterranean Sea en route to Alexandria. While on this sea, famous for its storms, he encountered a storm which he said must have been similar to the one that Paul wrote about in the 27th chapter of the Acts. Following is Dr. Walker's picture of A STORM ON THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA. "The sea had been turbulent all night. The fury of the sea con¬ tinued until noon to-day, when it reached its climax. For nearly an hour the waves united and lashed the steamer in a fearful manner, as if chastening it for disobeying some sea law. We closely watched the treacherous water during the contest. The ship at first seemed to think itself invincible, and had a perfect right to move in its own chosen route, despite the ocean's objec¬ tion. It was then that the hottest part of the contest took place. The ocean gave one command, and, at that summons, dashing, foaming, giant waves came from every direction to reinforce those already at the scene of battle. When they had combined their forces, they struck the steamer a few times; she cracked, reeled, bowed, tossed herself to and fro, shook up the passengers, made them sick, and put some to bed. Each time the vessel at¬ tempted to move out of her tracks she only lifted herself up and Life of Dr. Walker. came back in the same place. The man on the bridge turned the wheel, but the steamer shook her head. The wind blew, the tempest raged, the captain came from his room, ascended the bridge, took charge of affairs, called up the sailors, gave orders to turn the wheel and let her drive, but she could not go. The sea continued to assert its rights, and when the crew confessed that they were defeated and at the mercy of the waves, they cast an¬ chor, stood still, and waited on the sea to obtain a permit to move forward. The Mediterranean seemed to recognize that the whole crew were baffled, confused and beseeching mercy; so she called in her waves, sent them back to their several stations, each bearing a spray of snowy whiteness as an emblem of the victory they had won. And now all is serene on the water." Speaking of the people of Syria and other Eastern countries, Dr. Walker wrote the following about the present MANNERS AND CUSTOMS OF THE) EAST. "The manners and customs of these people are about the same as in the days of Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Men work for years to pay for their wives; lead their flocks as David did; dwell in tents; plow oxen as did Elij ah; water their fields; sow grain among thorns and rocks; wear the same kind of costumes with the old-time sandals on their feet; use donkeys and camels as beasts of burden—all as in the days of yore. The majority of the Mohammedans and Arabs have no chairs, tables, knives and forks, with no bedsteads in their houses. They eat with their fingers, stretch out on the floor or ground, sleep by the roadside, just as Jacob did when he had his vision. The Mohammedans be¬ lieve that a person who goes crazy becomes holy. The Turkish 74 Life of Dr. Walker. government does not allow its subjects to embrace Christianity. To ask a Mohammedan to change his religion is to endanger one's life." Following is Dr. Walker's notion of THE TESTIMONY OF THE MOUNTAINS. "Having made a study of the mountains in this country, they seem to me to wear an air of dignity at once charming and attract¬ ive. Lofty, stately, queenly, they look like silent but impressive heralds, standing as reminiscences of the far away past and as landmarks, preserving and perpetuating the history of notable events. Immovable and unchangeable, like their Creator, they have stood while the mighty have fallen; they have witnessed the enthronement and dethronement of kings; the captivity and ex¬ termination of nations, and to-day they are almost the only places in Palestine that the searcher after truth may feel safe in pointing out the identical location of Scriptural occurrences. Too lofty and unchangeable for tradition, they are the true historians of past centuries and for ages to come Sinai, Moriah, Carmel, Ebal, Gerizim, Tabor, Beatitudes, Zion and the Mount of Olives will bear witness to the Scriptures in a manner that will be obvious and convincing to the most sceptical mind. Well may Jehovah liken his church to the mountains. And why should not the snow deco¬ rate the mountains; the clouds circle about them; the sun linger and play upon their summits; the moon and the stars gaze smilingly upon them, while the lightnings race and prance up and down like electricity from a galvanic battery? Why not the sea crowd the mountain's base, bathe its feet, and perpetually sing sweet an- Life of Dr. Walker. 75 thems to its praise? 'How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of them that publisheth peace, that say unto Zion, Thy God reigneth.' Here is Dr. Walker's idea of how some people are heed¬ lessly DRIFTING ON life'S OCEAN. "I have been thinking how humanity is drifting on life's ocean. For seven days on the Atlantic, our steamer never stopped. The passengers ate, slept, walked, talked, got sick, some died—but we sailed on. The ship passed other vessels; it was often cloudy; the winds blew; the rains fell; storms and gales were often encoun¬ tered; the ship caught on fire—but we sailed on. Men gambled, drank whiskey and champagne, cursed and spent their hours in frivolity—and so they sailed on, apparently little dreaming that they were rapidly sailing to that eternal shore from whence no traveler returns." In view of the recent sad assassination of President McKinley, how like prophecy and solemn warning will the following words, which were written ten years ago, seem. At last, the American congress, at the dictation of President Roosevelt, is turning its at¬ tention to this great question which ten years ago Dr. Walker de¬ clared must be given some attention. Following is the extract: ANARCHY—A WARNING. "In the first-class saloon, there are seventy-six passengers; in the second, sixty; and in the steerage there are about eight hun¬ dred—nearly all emigrants. Some are Jews from Russia, fleeing from persecution; others are Belgians, Swedes, Germans, Ital¬ ians, Irishmen, Welshmen and Scotchmen, all going to our home 76 Life of Dr. Walker. of freedom—America. Many of them are very immoral, and ut¬ terly oblivious of modesty. As a rule, they are a dirty lot, some actually nauseating; and hundreds of them have not washed either their hands or faces on this voyage, so far. Yet these very people come to America to supercede the Negro, and to boss him! These immigrants have extended to them the rights of citi¬ zenship in every particular, and yet these inalienable rights are denied the colored man who has helped to make America what it is. Many of these foreigners are of the very worst element in their own country. They are ignorant, treacherous, uncivilized, and many of them heathen. They have no respect for the Sab¬ bath ; they have no respect for the law; they have no regard for Christianity; they are antagonistic to the principles of liberty as laid down in the Declaration of Independence of the United States. Mark this prediction : So sure as we live, America is fast getting a Jumbo on her hands. She is nestling a Vesuvius in her bosom that may remain dormant for a long period; but when the volcanic eruption breaks forth, seventy times seven streams of lava will be shot out at one time, and the main pillars that support and uphold the whole fabric of our American institutions will be undermined, uprooted, and partially, if not wholly destroyed. Chicago and New Orleans should be held in remembrance by our whole people, East, West, North and South. The outrages perpetrated by these villains in those cities were comparable to the firing of the first gun on Fort Sumter. Let the American congress spend some time in legislating against these holy terrors, instead of needlessly dis¬ cussing schemes to deport the poor unfortunate Negro." CHAPTER X. AS A NATIONAL FIGURE. The first National Baptist Convention of Negro Baptists ever held in the United States convened at the Second Baptist Church, St. Louis, Mo., August 25, 1886, at 10 a. m. It was called to order by the late lamented Rev. William J. Simmons, D. D., President of the State University of Kentucky, who had been chiefly instrumen¬ tal in having the Convention called. There were large delegations present from nearly all of the Southern States and a few from the East and West. Georgia sent only three delegates to this first meeting, while now she sends annually about one hundred. The three delegates from Georgia who attended the St. Louis meeting were the late Rev. E. K. Love, D. D., of Savannah, and the Revs. G. H. Dwelle and C. T. WTalker, of Augusta. The Rev. Mr. Walker took a prominent part in the deliberations of the Convention, and served on the Committee on Permanent Organization. It was because of a wise, conservative and, considering the make-up of the Convention, bold stand that he took at this meeting, that he leaped, so to say, at one bound into national prominence as a fearless leader. It happened this way. On the second day of the meeting, one Rev. H. C. Bailey, of Florida, spoke on "Southern Ostracism." After abusing Southern white people for their treat¬ ment of the colored people, the Rev. Mr. Bailey said, among other 77 78 Life of Dr. Walker. things, that the Southern white Baptists were figureheads. Bid¬ ing his time, the next day the Rev. Mr. Walker arose and address¬ ing the chairman, said that he thought the statement made by the Rev. Mr. Bailey concerning the Southern white Baptists did them great injustice and ought not to be allowed to go unchal¬ lenged. Immediately every eye was turned toward the young champion from Georgia and there followed from him the most impassioned address of the'entire meeting. He concluded by of¬ fering the following resolution, which, though vigorously op¬ posed by many members of the Convention, was adopted by a good majority: "Whereas, In the speech of H. C. Bailey, of Florida, yesterday, before this body, the statement was made that, as a whole, the Southern white Baptists were figureheads who do not follow Bap¬ tist teachings and who believe that there are separate heavens for white and-colored people; and "Whereas, Such as assertion does great injustice to the white Baptists of the South from the fact that they have many colored missionaries in the South paid by them to labor among our people; and "Whereas, The Southern Baptist Convention at its meeting in January, 1886, in the city of Montgomery, Ala., passed a resolu¬ tion to raise $10,000 to expend in mission work among the col¬ ored Baptists of the South; and "Whereas, Such a statement as that referred to is likely to prove detrimental to the 800,000 colored Baptists of the South; therefore, be it "Resolved, First, That this Convention does not endorse the statement of the brother referred to. Life of Dr. Walker. 79 "Resolved, Second, That this Convention hears with the great¬ est gratification of the efforts now being made by the Southern Baptist Convention to expend $10,000 for missionary work among the colored people." This resolution was published in many of the Southern news¬ papers and in all denominational organs; there was nothing but praise for the author. The Rev. Mr. Walker left home practically unknown outside of his own State; he returned one of the ac¬ knowledged leaders of the Baptist brotherhood of the country. The advertising he received from this incident doubtless in no small measure paved the way for his success in the East, whither he went a month later to solicit funds to assist him in his church work at Augusta. Again, in i889,, at Indianapolis, while attending the National Baptist Convention, he added to his already growing reputation. Then, as in 1886, the* Southern question was up for discussion. Many speakers indulged in wholesale abuse of the South; the white people of the South were pictured as heathen; they were vilified and maligned; race feeling ran high; there was great ex¬ citement. The Rev. Mr. Walker gained the floor and made an able speech counselling wisdom and moderation, and stating that he believed that the best element of white people in the South was trying to create such a public sentiment as would make lynching impossible. At any rate, he stated that the best thing for the col¬ ored people to do was to make the friendship of and seek the pro¬ tection of the people among whom they lived. His speech acted like magic. Oil was poured on the troubled waters. Reason re¬ turned, and the resolutions under consideration were defeated. Again his name got into the newspapers; his speech was published 80 Life of Dr. Walker. North and South; his name was oil every tongue; some of the papers referred to him as "a strong man in a crisis." It was at this meeting that he preached the Conventional ser¬ mon. It aroused and stirred all who heard it. At its conclusion, the late Rev. Dr. Simmons, the President of the Convention, walked over toi the preacher, shook his hand, and said : "You have won your 'D. D.,' and I'll see that you get it." The following summer, true to his word, he had the trustees of the State Uni¬ versity of Kentucky, of which he was President, to confer upon the Rev. Mr. Walker the honorary degree of "Doctor of Divin¬ ity," which he has worthily worn ever since. ' From the beginning, Dr. Walker was one of the leading figures of the National Baptist Convention, and he is such to-day. For 'three- years he was its' Treasurer, and for many years was Vice President for Georgia. He is now Vice President for New York. He has attended every annual meeting since the begin¬ ning, without missing a single one. Not a partisan, not a faction- ist, not a stirrer up of strife among the brethren, not a division- maker, a man of peace, probably no man has a larger and more loyal following among the Negro Baptists of America than he has. In June, 1898, he was appointed a Chaplain with the rank of Captain in the U. S. V., and assigned to duty with the Ninth Im- munes. The appointment was made by the late President McKin - ley out of a list of more than 500 applicants. He. secured a leave of absence from his Augusta church, and joined his regiment at San Luis, Cuba, about thirty miles inland from Santiago, in No¬ vember, 1898. The. regiment was only doing garrison duty at the time, the leading events in the Spanish-American War having already been long since concluded. During his absence, his church Life of Dr. Walker. 81. at Augusta was supplied by the Rev. Silas X. Floyd, at that time- one of the Field Workers of the International Sunday School Con¬ vention. The International Sunday School Convention is the largest and most important Sunday School organization in the world. It embraces in its membership the United States, the Dominion of Canada and South America, with corresponding representatives from Europe. It has a constituency of more than 23,000,000. It is sponsor for the International Lesson Series, which was inau¬ gurated in 1872 by Mr. B. F. Jacobs, of Chicago, for many year." past the able and honorable and venerable Chairman of the Execu¬ tive Committee of the International Sunday School Convention. Closely associated with Mr. Jacobs in this great work have been, for many years, Dr. Geo. W. Bailey, of Philadelphia, the Treas¬ urer and Chairman of the Finance Committee; Mr. John R. Pep¬ per, of Memphis, Chairman of the Committee on Work Among the Colored People; Mr. John Wanamaker, of Philadelphia, and Mr. W. K. Crosby, of Wilmington, Del. The International Convention meets once every three years. At its last meeting, in 1899, in Atlanta, Ga., the Hon. Hoke Smith, Secretary of the Interior under Cleveland's second administration, was elected President, and Dr. Walker was elected one of the five Vice Presi¬ dents. He was unanimously presented for this place by the col¬ ored delegates present at the meeting, and these delegates repre¬ sented many different denominations. It is an honor not lightly to be esteemed for a Negro to hold an office in such an important religious body. During the past fifteen years, Dr. Walker has received calls from the following churches: First Baptist Church, Nashville, 6 82 Life of Dr. Walker. Tenn.; the First Baptist Church, St. Louis; and the Second Bap¬ tist Church, Indianapolis. No one of these calls was accepted by the distinguished pastor. He preferred to remain with the people of Augusta. CHAPTER XI. CHAPLAIN U. S. V. Dr. Walker joined his regiment, the Ninth Immunes, at San Luis, Cuba, the middle of November, 1898, and remained in the service for nearly two months. He did not find the service with the army very congenial, and resigned his commission to return to civil life. He remained with the army long enough, however, to get some notion of what army life means. He also learned much of Cuba, its climate and its peoples, and was able on his re¬ turn to give a very interesting account of his trip, The following report is taken from the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, Jan. 5, 1899: "Notwithstanding the rainy weather and the overcast night, it is probable that never before in its history was Tabernacle Baptist Church so overcrowded with people as on last night. It had been announced the day before that the pastor, Rev. C. T. Walker, D. D., recently with the Ninth Immune Infantry in Cuba, was to lec¬ ture on last night of his experience in that island. "This notice was sufficient to pack the edifice up to the point of almost complete suffocation. Standing room was at a premium. Several hundred were turned away, and more than a hundred lin¬ gered in the yard on the stairways until the lecture closed. Pos¬ sibly more than' 1,200 persons heard the speaker. ' "Dr. Walker, as is his custom, caught the audience from the be¬ ginning. He referred to the pleasure it gave him to be greeted 83 84 Life of Dr. Walker. by such a large gathering; he said it reminded him of the throng which welcomed him on his return from the Holy Land seven years ago. He said that there was great interest being manifested all over this country in Cuba and its people, especially because the Span¬ ish yoke of oppression had been lifted from Cuba's neck, and the American flag now floated over that land, and the Cubans, so long oppressed, s'o long cruelly treated, were now free. He said he was glad it was so, because wherever the Stars and Stripes waved there the Gospel flag could not long be kept furled. "He gave a brief account of his appointment last June by Presi¬ dent McKinley, and, also, a short narrative of his journey to San¬ tiago. His description of his entrance into the harbor of Santi¬ ago, passing Morro Castle, the sunken Mercedes, and the sunken Merrimac, was truly eloquent and-brought down the house. " 'Santiago,' he said, 'is one of the oldest cities in North America —older even than St. Augustine, Fla., having been founded in 1542. The streets are very narrow; the sidewalks are so narrow that two people cannot walk abreast; the city is extremely dirty; the water is unfit to drink, unless it is boiled; there are about 50, - 000 people in the city—15,600 of them white Cubans, and 35,000 of them black Cubans. Some of the people are intelligent, and some few engaged in business; but the vast majority of them are woefully ignorant and shiftless. Most of them at present are com¬ pletely on the charity of the United States government. There are about 7,000 white soldiers in and around Santiago under General Leonard Wood, and about 3,000 colored soldiers out at San Luis, about 35 miles away—the Eighth Illinois, the Twenty- third Kansas and the Ninth Immune Infantry. The first two of Life of Dr. Walker. 85 these regimen s have all colored officers from colonel down; my own regiment had all white officers excepting the lieutenants. "He was particularly interested in San Juan Hill where, as he said, the battle was fought which decided the fate of Spain. He was particularly interested in it, because in that battle, the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth Infantries, and the Ninth and Tenth Cavalries, all colored soldiers, led the charge, cut the barbed wire fence, captured the block-hous^, saved the Rough Riders, and added glory to the American nation and Negro race. He said he had stood cn Bunker Hill, he had walked over the famous field of Waterloo, had crossed the valley of Ajalon where Joshua whipped five kings of the Amorites, and the Valley of Rephaim, where David conquered the Philistines, but he never was so inspired as he was when he stood on San Juan Hill, because there his own race was gallantly represented. At this the house thundered with applause. "He said Cuba was a most beautiful country—more beautiful than even Germany or Switzerland. The soil is rich and fertile. Potatoes grow there as long as walking canes, and vegetation flourishes throughout the entire year. The weather he found to be extremely warm. December was like our June or July. No overcoats needed there. He thought the country was very un¬ healthy. The fever there is worse than Spanish bullets, and no one is 'immune' from it, not even the natives. The people are in a very low state of civilization, considered as a whole. In the rural districts, they do not live in houses, but 'shacks.' He had seen living in one little room, a husband and wife and five children, and a sow and six pigs. It is common for the people to live in the same room with horses, cows and hogs. 86 Life of Dr. Walker. "He positively affirmed that, in his judgment, the Cubans were incapable of self-government. He found them to be very treach¬ erous. They hate American soldiers, white and black. They thought America ought to have freed them and immediately given them their island to run to suit themselves. It was dangerous for any American to go alone at night; he would be killed by the Cu¬ ban machete. "He mentioned the following as imperative needs of Cuba: churches, good schools, improved farming methods, and business enterprises. He thought that one thing that would greatly retard progress in Cuba was American prejudice, many examples of which he had observed while there. He said the American carried his prejudice wherever he went, and if _ American proscription along race lines was carried to Cuba, where such a thing had never been known, it would be an unhappy day for the island. "In closing, he spoke of his success as chaplain. He had more than 100 converts, and had a baptism for three successive Sundays. His concluding words were a pathetic description of a scene which took place at one of his baptisms when one of the soldiers marched down to the water, singing: 'Ho, my comrades, don't you want to gfo? Let's yo down to Jordan, hallelu.' "At the close he showed many interesting relics, which he brought home with him. He had four Spanish rifles, a large sup¬ ply of Mauser bullets, one machete, some cocoa, some coffee, some walking sticks made of iron wood, a Cuban pitcher, etc." The same night the above address was delivered, resolutions were unanimously adopted thanking the speaker for his interesting Life of Dr. Walker. 87 address and expressing the pleasure of the people at his safe re¬ turn. Thanks were also tendered the late President McKinley for appointing Dr. Walker as chaplain with the rank of captain in the U. S. V. CHAPTER XII. AS AN EVANGELIST. Mention has been made in a preceding chapter of the fact that Dr. Walker has been very successful in the field of evangelistic work. In speaking of his work as an evangelist, let it be under¬ stood at the outset that the cnly limitation that has been put upon his efforts in evangelism has been due to the fact that all along he has been a stated pastor and has only given such time to evangelis¬ tic campaigns as he could spare from an unusually busy pastorate. Yet even with this limitation he has been very successful in evan¬ gelistic work, though he has not been able, for the reason stated, to accept scores of invitations from great cities to serve the Lord by conducting revival services. He has the calling, the spirit, the gift, the'courage, the direct¬ ness, the sympathy, the faith, the fervor, and the flexibility of the true evangelist. What gives him his greatest preaching power is the enthusiastic warmth and impulsiveness of his speech both in matter and manner. Another thing that adds to the attractiveness of his meetings is the singing. Unlike most of the world's greatest preachers, he is a great singer. It has been often said of him that he can out-preach any man, and then, without stopping, put in and out-sing any man. It is beyond the power of man to de¬ scribe an audience of four or five thousand colored people engaged 88 Life of Dr. Walker. 89 in a service of song". In addition to the Gospel Hymns and Reviv¬ al Songs, the colored people always use the old time Negro Spirituals, sometimes called Plantation Songs, and in the rendition" of these last the colored people are inimitable. With Dr. Walker leading the singing" in stentorian notes and the multitude joining in, its worth a dav's journey o^f any man's life to witness the sight. To be understood, to be appreciated, it must be seen and heard. At sometime or other, during the past twenty years, revival services have been held by Dr. Walker in every important city in Georgia without exception. It will be unnecessary to speak of each meeting. The first "big meetings" that gave him anything like that he might finish well. The apostle commended the Ephesians to God—to God's providence, to God's protection, to God's word. He commended them in this way for their edification and for their glorification. "Then leaving the text, he delivered some very pathetic and helpful parting words to his congregation. Among other things he urged them to be a united people; he plead with them to stand to¬ gether and to uphold the hands of the young man who had been called to succeed him; he urged them to be industrious, progress- Life of Dr. Walker. 101 ive, self-respecting and self-reliant; with much eloquence he called upon them to be interested in all the affairs of their race—he ap¬ pealed to them to be law-abiding and to make themselves a credit to the race and to the city of Augusta and not a disgrace. "Parting words were also spoken to the officers of the chuich. Parting thanks were exp.esied to the church, to the sinners, to the citizens, white and colored, who had stood by him and made his success possible. "In closing he gave a brief summary of his 14 years work in this city. During that time he has baptized at his church over 1,400 people erected a handsome brick church, bought an 'Old Folks' Home,' the church and home valued at over $20,000, and done many other things of which he did not speak. Many of the con¬ gregation were shedding tears at the close of the service. The parting hymn was 'God be with you till we meet again.' " The Mount Olivet Baptist Church was organized March 10, 1878. Rev. Daniel W. Wisher was its first pastor. The church had its place of worship in West 26th St., until 1885. In that year, by the help of generous white Baptist friends and the Baptist City Mission Society, they were enabled to purchase the splendid edifice in W. 53rd St., valued then at $130,000, in which they still worship. During the pastorate of Rev. D. W. Wisher, or from 1878 to 1899, the church paid on its debt, $39,000) of this $18,000 were given by. Mr. John D. Rockefeller, Mr. W. M. Isaacs, Mr. James Pyle, Mr. W. A. Caldwell, Mr. Samuel S. Con¬ stant, Mrs. Nathan Bishop, Mr. J. A. Bostick, Mr. J. F. Coniey, Mr. B. F. Judson, Mr. R. Parker and others through the Baptist City Mission Society. 102 Life of Dr. Walker. In 1897 during the heated political campaign in New York City, the Rev. D. W. Wisher saw fit to side with Tammany Hall in the city election, and, it is said, went so far as to preach a sermon in which he advocated Tammany's claims and advised his members to vote the Tammany ticket. As a result of this new departure, great opposition to the Rev. Mr. Wisher sprang up in the church, and for nearly two years there was an unseemly church wrangle by which the church was finally divided into two factions, known as the "Wisherites'' and the ''Anti-Wisherites." It would be offensive to go into details. After a series of court trials the "Anti-Wisherites" triumphed. The Rev. Mr. Wisher was deposed in 1899, and his followers left the church. It was then that the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church commenced to look for a new leader. The Rev. Chas. S. Morris, D. D., of Bos¬ ton. Mass., was called to lead the church temporarily. After prayer and deliberation, the church looked to Georgia, its eye fell on the "Black Spurgeon,'' and he was invited to become pastor of the church. As already stated, after conference with those in au¬ thority, Dr. Walker decided to accept the new charge. At first his friends throughout the nation felt that he was making a mis¬ take, the church already divided, the people who had kept up with the "church war"' (so far as they could keep up with it from the newspaper reports) felt that it would be impossible for any human being to reunite the membership. But Dr. Walker undertook the task, trusting in the Lord. He succeeded from the day he took charge, the first Sunday in October, 1899. From that day to this there has not been the slighest friction in the church, and the mem¬ bership has increased from about 430 to more than 1,800 in the short space of two years and four months. Besides, it is said by Life of Dr. Walker! 103 MT. OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH, WEST FIFTY THIRD STREET, NEW YOKK CITY. N. Y. those competent to give correct opinions in the matter that from the beginning he has preached to the largest regular congrega¬ tions of any man in New York City, white or black. The second Sunday in March, 1900, he baptized 184 converts at orip time, which is the record for New York City, and perhaps for the country. It was such an unusual spectacle that all the New 104 Life of Dr. Walker. York newspapers gave large space to a report of the baptism and the Associated Press sent a long account of it throughout the length and breadth of the country. At the night service the pas¬ tor gave the hand of fellowship to 408 members. The second Sunday in March, 1901, he had another large bap¬ tism, in which 95 were baptized, and the second Sunday in Febru¬ ary, 1902, more than 100 were baptized into the fellowship of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. In all there have been more than 1,400 added to the church under his administration, 700 by bap¬ tism and about 700 by letters and Christian experiences. These' last are usually called backsliders. They are persons who were at one time members of Baptist churches in other places, but who have been in New York, some ten, some fifteen and some twenty years, without connecting themselves with any churches, while at the same time they lost their identity with the churches where they formerly were members. Dr. Walker has reclaimed hundreds of these, and they are making good church members. Financially his success with the church has been remarkable. In round numbers, he has raised for all purposes, $25,000. He has kept up the interest on the church debt and paid $2,500 on the principal. He has raised $3,000 for the Colored Men's Branch Y. M. C. A.; $2,500 for Home and Foreign Missions, and more than $2,000-for various charities. Among the regular contributors to the church at the present time are Mrs. Geo. Lewis, Mr. W. R. A. Martin, and Mr. James W. Talcott. The Mt. Olivet Baptist Church is a commodious structure, three stories high with a beautiful granite front. The first floor con¬ tains the trustees' room, library room, the deacon's room, one large dressing room, kitchen and Sunday School room and the Life of Dr. Walker. 105 lecture room—the library room and trustees' room, by means of folding- doors, can be thrown into the lecture room. The second floor contains the main auditorium and the choir gallery with two large swinging galleries. The third floor contains the pastor's study and room for committees, choir practice, etc. Following is the list of present officers of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church: DEACONS 01? MT. OUVST BAPTIST CHURCH. Wm. Moore, Chairman. Born in Hertford County, N. C., in 1^55- Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1881. Made deacon in 1882. Served for several years on the Advisory Board. Fleming W. Jackson, Vice Chairman. Born in New Kent County, Va., in 1836. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1879 by letter from Second Baptist Church, Richmond, Va. Licensed to preach by Joy Street Baptist Church, Boston, Mass., and also by the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. Served for five years on the Advisory Board of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church and for the pact four years has been a deacon. T. A. Gardener, born in Shirley, near Richmond, Va., in 1846. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church when it was organized in 1878. Has been a member of the board of deacons 22 years. G. P. Webb. Born in Orange County, Va., Oct. 7, 1850. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1878. Been a member of the Board of deacons since 1885. Deacon Webb is also Vice Presi¬ dent Board of Trustees. Robert H. Jones. Born in 1850 in Petersburg, Va. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1885. Became deacon in 1898. Herbert S. Royal. Born in Nottoway County, Va., Oct. 31, 106 Life of Dr. Walker. 1858. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1884. Served as an usher for three years; member of the Advisory Board for two years, and made a deacon in 1894. David Grant. Born in 1848, in Marengo County, Ala. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1882; made a deacon in 1900. John E. Walters. Born April 3, 1862, in Accomac County, Va. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1885. Served on Advisory Board for several years. Made a deacon in 1898. Deacon Waters is, also, Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday School. General Grant Stephens. Born in Newbern, N. C., March 15, 1870. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1895. Made a dea¬ con in 1900. A. J. Campbell, Born in Nottoway County, Va., April 20, 1857. Joined Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1887. Made a deacon 111 1900. W. H. Holloway. Samuel Swann. truster board. W. H. Jones, President; Henry Darnell, Treasurer; Cyrus Henry Trent, Secretary; James Wells, Assistant Secretary; Dea¬ con G. P. Webb, Vice President; J. E. Taylor, Frank Youngblood, P. F. Comey (white), W. H. J. Innis (white). OTHER OFFICERS. J. E. Decker, Church Clerk; Prof. J. S. Brown, Assistant Clerk; J. F. Comey (white), Treasurer; Wesley Norman, Superintend¬ ent of Sunday School; Deacon J. E. Walters, Assistant Superin¬ tendent of Sunday School; B. H. Green, President B. Y. P. U.; Life of Dr. Walker. 107 Samuel Tabb, President Young People's Literary Society; Mrs. Charity Jones, President of the C. T. Walker Volunteer Club; Airs. Clarence Robinson, President of the United Tribes (auxiliary to the Y. M. C. A.) ; Deacon F. W. Jackson, President of the Co¬ workers; Prof. A. C. Fletcher, Chorister; Madam V. E. Hunt Scott, Organist; John Collie, Sexton; Robert Washington, As¬ sistant Sexton. CHAPTER XIV. COLORED MEN'S BRANCH Y. M. C. A. Dr. Walker had not been a resident of New York six months before he turned his attention to the organization of a Young Men's Christian Association for colored young men. He had looked around and had found no place for hundreds and hundreds of colored young men to spend their evenings and Sundays, ex¬ cept in saloons, dives and brothels. Without consulting anybody, though he was at the headquarters of the International Y. M. C. A., he called a public meeting at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, and organized a Y. M. C. A. Nearly every colored pastor in the city, regardless of denomination, became interested in the movement, and gave Dr. Walker almost undivided support. Money was raised, a building at 132 West 53rd Street was leased for one year, temporary officers were elected, and Dec. 18, 1900, application was made to the Y. M. C. A. of New York City for membership as one of the regular branches. The application was received and acted on favorably, and since then the Colored Men's Branch has been oneof the regular branches of the City Association. In January, 1901, Mr. Walter C. Coles, of Aiken, S. C., was appointed Secre¬ tary of the Colored Men's Branch and immediately took charge of the work. He served oiily one year, having been summoned to 108 Life of Dr. Walker. 109 REV. WALTER C. COLES, DECEASED EX-SECRETA.RY OF COLORED Y. M. C A., NEW YORK CITY, N. Y. report to God, Saturday, Jan. 4th, 1902. The following obituary notice is taken from the Presbyterian Herald, of New York City: "Rev. Walter C. Coles died suddenly of typhoid fever, at his home, 331 West 59th Street, Saturday, January 4th, 1902. Mr. Coles was the oldest son of the Rev. William R. and Mrs. Coles, of Aiken, S. C. He was a graduate both of the College and Theolog¬ ical Departments of Biddle University, N. C. 110 Life of Dr. Walker. "It was in the Biddle University where Mr. Coles developed his great power as a 'Fisher of Men.' He organized the University men, whom he held together by his shrewd method of dealing and his heart of love. "He engaged in) regular pastoral work at Nimrod, N. C. and Aiken, S. C. "The Rev. Chas. T. Walker, D. D., came to New York as pas¬ tor of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in 1899. "He at once began work among the men, organized a Colored Men's Branch of the Y. M. C. A. Within a year this organization had grown to be a great power for good. A secretary was needed. Walter Coles was the man. He was appointed Secretary of the Colored Men's Branch of the Y. M. C. A., 132 West 53rd Street, January 1901. He therefore served only one year. "In September, 1901, he was ordained by the Presbytery of Mc¬ Clelland, in South Carolina, and was married to Miss Mattie Belkr of Greenville, in the same month, and the happy couple came to New York to engage in their life work. But alas! How soon was he cut down. He had lived a full life. His work was done. His task ended. "A memorial service was held in Mount Olivet Baptist Church, Sunday afternoon. The Colored Branch and the Ladies' Auxil¬ iary were present in a body. Among the speakers were Chairman Walker, the Rev. Dr. William H. Brooks, Pastor of St. Mark's Methodist Episcopal Church; the Rev. Hutchins C. Bishop, Pastor of St. Philip's Protestant Episcopal Church; Vice Chairman G. W. Allen, Messrs. A. S'. Newman, representing the Board of Direc¬ tors ; E. W. Booth, General Secretary; B. M. Lewis, of the East Side Branch, and Mr. Bannister of the Harlem Branch. The Life of Dr. Walker. Ill REV. T. J. BELL, SECRETARY COLORED Y. M C. A., NEW YORK CITY. chancel was filled with a large number of handsome floral pieces. Sunday evening the remains were carried to Aiken, accompanied by Mr. Coles's wife, mother and H. C. Dugas.' " The death of Mr. Coles was a serious blow to the work, but the work is still being carried on in the name of the Lord. Rev. Thomas T. Bell, of Altamaha, Ga., a graduate of Atlanta Univer¬ sity and Hartford Theological Seminary, has been appointed to succeed the late Mr. Coles, and will enter upon his duties April I, 1902. The Association has nowT $2,000 on hand for a building fund and more than $500 in the treasury for current expenses. Too 112 Life of Dr. Walker. much cannot be said in praise of the efforts of the United Tribes in raising money for the Y. M. C. A. The Tribes are a company of women of the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, which serves as an aux¬ iliary to the Y. M. C. A. Deacon Fleming Jackson is President of the United Tribes. By means of fairs, the tribes have raised for the work of the Colored Men's Branch more than $3,000. Dr. Walker has found them an invaluable auxiliary. . The present officers are the following. Board of Managers : Rev. C. T. Walker, D. D., Chairman; Geo. W. Allen, Vice ChairmanJohn A. Robinson, Secretary; J. F. Comey, Treasurer; Rev. P. Butler Thompkins, Rev. W. H. Brooks, Rev. W. D. Cook, Rev. H. C. Bishop, Mr. Henry Darnell, John S. Brown, Jr., E. P. Roberts, Walter Handy, Anderson Ferrall, Jr., A. S. Newman, Edmund W. Booth, A. B. Cooper, Rev. W. L. Hubbard. Special mention should be made of a life-size oil painting of Dr. Walker, the founder and Chairman of the Branch, given to the Colored Men's Branch by the Ladies' Auxiliary Society of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church. This painting adorns the walls of the Colored Men's Branch. Special mention, also, should be made of the invaluable services rendered Dr. Walker by his private Secretary, Mr. Henry C. Dugas, of Augusta, Ga. Mr. Dugas went to New York with Dr. Walker, in 1899, and continued his right-hand man until October, 1901. At that time, Dr. Walker was thinking about going South again to live, and, with his characteristic large-heartedness, he looked about to place Mr. Dugas in sbme good position. Through friends he was able to place Mr. Dugas as one of the Secretaries of Mr. George Foster Peabody, the millionaire banker, philanthropist and publicist. Mr. Dugas has given prefect satisfaction in his new HENRY C. DUGAS, FORMER SECRETARY OF DR. WALKER, NOW PERSONAL SECRETARY FOR GEORGE FOSTER PEABODY. 8 114 Life of Dr. Walker. station. He is.a graduate of the Oberlin Business College, is an accomplished stenographer and typewriter, steady in his habits, modest and unassuming in his general deportment, and indefatiga¬ ble in the performance of his duties. Since Mr. Dugas left Dr. Walker, the duties of private Secretary have been ably and suc¬ cessfully performed by Miss Annie L. Connelly, of New York City. The most significant fact in connection with the Colored Y. M. C. A. is that all efforts to organize an association among the col¬ ored men of New York failed until Dr. Walker came to the city and applied his heart and mind and energy to the task. The in¬ stant success of the movement attracted wide-spread attention, and long after he is dead, Dr. Walker will be known in history as the founder of the first Colored Y. M. C. A. in New York City. The work is bound to grow and increase with the years that are to come. It is confidently predicted that within a year, the Colored Men's Branch will have a finely located building that will cost upwards of $50,000. CHAPTER XV. CALLED TO AUGUSTA AGAIN. Rev. Silas X. Floyd resigned the pastorate of Tabernacle Church. Augusta, Ga., Nov. 15, 1900. The resignation was not accepted by the church, but Rev. Mr. Floyd decided to leave the pastorate and took his departure Jan. 1, 1901. The Tabernacle Church, be¬ ing now without a leader, looked to its founder and first pastor for aid and comfort. In June, 1901, a unanimous call was tendered to Dr. Walker to return to his old work. Dr. Walker greatly loved the people of his old church, and felt grateful toward them for standing by him so loyally in his earlier years when he was not so prominent, and felt it to be his duty to return to them. He notified the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church of his intention to leave New York, Oct. 1, 1901, and take up again his old work at Augusta. There was a spontaneous protest from the whole church and from the entire city, as may be easily seen from the files of the newspapers of the metropolis. The city was up in arms; the church passed resolutions, imploring Dr. Walker to remain in New York, and many other organizations did likewise. The strong protest against his leaving New York culminated in a mass meeting, held in Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, New York City, Wednesday night, Nov. 6, 1901. The following circular, sent out by the church and citizens, will illustrate the vigorous effort made to keep Dr. Walker in New York City : 115 116 Life of Dr. Walker. "Mass meeting of the officers, members and the congregation of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Rev. Dr. Charles T. Walker, Pastor, to* be held in the church,West 53rd St., on Wednesday evening, Nov. 6, 1901, at 8 o'clock. "The purpose of this meeting is to give expression to our great love, respect, affection and regard for Rev. Dr. Charles T. Walker, and to show him how strong our desire is to have him remain among us as our spiritual comforter, friend and adviser. "We not only desire him to remain with us, but we also desire to show him the sincerity and strength of this desire. "We desire to show him how much we appreciate his Christian character, his polished sermons, his matchless eloquence, his bright and versatile intelligence, his noble manhood, his genial and kindly spirit, his undying loyalty to his people, and all those good quali¬ ties "which have so endeared him to1 our hearts, and which go to make the very highest and best of the Christian ministry. "We want his people in Augusta, Ga., to learn from us how dear he is to us, and that we cannot and will not allow him to depart from among us, and to persuade them to give up all thoughts of inducing him to leave a field of usefulness to us as a race, which cannot well be filled by others (let them be who they may). "Rev. Dr. Robert S. MacArthur, pastor Calvary Baptist Church, West 57th Street, will preside. Addresses will be made by Right Rev. William B. Derrick, Bishop of the A. M. E. Church; Dr. Cook, pastor Bethel A. M. E. Church; Dr. William H. Brooks, pastor of St. Mark's M. E. Church, F. R. Morse, assistant pastor Calvary Baptist Church, West 57th Street; Pierce B. Thompkins, pastor of St. James Church, West 32nd Street; Hutchins Bishop, pastor of St. Philip's Church; Dr. W. T. Dixon, Pastor Concord Life of Dr. Walker. 117 Baptist Church, Brooklyn; John D. Rockefeller, Jr., James Alex. Williams, Consulting Physician and Inspector Department of Health, N. Y. City; E. V. C. Cato, Superintendent of the A. M. E. Church Sabbath School, and W. G. M. F., and A. M. S. of New York; W. R. Davis, Alexander Powell, Assistant Inspector De¬ partment of New York, G. A. R., and Past Commander Post 234; R. H. Hutchless, P. E. G. C. K. of T.; Winfield Jackson,.Presi¬ dent of Saloon Men's Protective Association, No. 1, of New York City; Alfred Christian, President of Bronx Republican Club, New York City; T. T. Fortune, Editor of New York Age; Wm. H. Randolph, Commander Post 234, Department of N. Y., G. A. R.; David Prime, James Mann, John L. Bradford, A. L. Askew, John H. Chase, Robert Franklin, Jeremiah Stewart, Robert P. Gilmore, Theodore Warren. "Music under the direction of Albert C. Fletcher, Choirmaster of the church; Mme. V. E. Hunt Scott, Organist." The meeting referred to in the above circular was carried out almost to the letter, and was said to have been the largest church meeting ever held in New York City. The following letter sent to the meeting by Rev. W. C. Bitting, pastor of one of the largest white churches in New York, is so very full and explicit that we give it space in this book. "I would be sorry to see Mr. Walker leave our city. Our col¬ ored brethren have suffered horribly from incompetent atid un¬ educated leaders in this city, and are suffering in the same way now, in many churches. What a well prepared man can do has been demonstrated by the pastorate of Mr. Walker. I wish that he could see his way to remain with us, and that the example of Mt. Olivet Church in calling and keeping an educated pastor Robert Stuakt MacArthur, D. D , pastor calvary baptist chukch, mew york. Life of Dr. Walker. 119 would be followed by all the other churches. We would have a different story to tell about our work if our colored brethren would not take up with pious and illiterate tramps. This will show you my feeling about Mr. Walker's work and continuance among us. "It is a matter which I suppose he will settle between the Lord and himself, and I also honor him enough to believe that he does not need begging to keep h-im here if he sees it to be his duty to stay, and I also honor him enough to believe that he will go if he believes it to be his duty to go. I have not much heart to meddle with what must by nature be a matter between God and Mr. Walker. Neverthelssis, I earnestly hope he may see it to be his duty to stay and help not only Mt. Olivet, but all the other churches, and his race and the city by the continuance of what has been in many respects a remarkable^ ministry. Such a man ought to be allowed to have his own way. "Yours sincerely, "W. C. Bitting." One speech made at the mass meeting is deserving of more than passing notice; it was delivered by Col. Alexander Powell, Past Commander Post 234, G. A. R. It reflected the opinion of all present. Extracts follow: "I state my conviction to you and to my comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic, who are members of this church, by •saying that Dr. Walker owes a duty to the members of this church which has so wonderfully prospered under him, that should be as sacred as the one he seeks to discharge in that far distant city of Augusta, Georgia. He has in'stilled into the hearts of all who have been so fortunate as to hear him preach, a clearer under- 120 Life of Dr. Walker. standing of Christ crucified and the forgiveness of those who trespass against us; the work he bravely andN uncomplainingly has done in the building up of the Young Men's Christian Asso¬ ciation, together with his undying loyalty to us as a race, has not only touched the hearts of those who know him best, but has been felt far and wide. I know, too, something of the injustice he has suffered while doing the bidding of our Heavenly Father, but with a Christian spirit he has forgiven those who would spitefully use him, and prayed for those who wronged him. "The gathering memories of olden days always gather about me as I cross the threshold of this church, and to-night more so than ever. The traveler standing in the beautiful Valley of Chamonix, at the base of Mont Blanc, fails to realize the stupendous height of that snow-capped peak, but when miles distant he turns back and beholds it towering far above its compeers, he recognizes its claim to be called the Monarch of Mountains. ''It is so with Dr. Walker. Now that his resignation has been .placed in your hands, your judgments have matured and you real¬ ize the difficulties he has overcome, the Christian works he has ac¬ complished, and the blessings he has brought to the people, his re¬ tention becomes precious and priceless to you. "He is the beau ideal of a minister. His Christianity is the natural growth of his life. His fame as a preacher has come to him unsought, his administration of the finances of your church has been successful because it has been based on honesty. His achievements since he has been a resident of this imperial city com¬ pel admiration; they touch the finer chords of our nature. They inspire feelings akin to those we experience in listening to the grand strains of "an oratorio. His success is not the success that Life of Dr. Walker. 121 makes fools admired and villains honest. It is not the success of accident, which bursts forth like a meteor and as suddenly disap¬ pears; it is not that acquired by selfishness, that is tinctured with envy, jealousy, hypocrisy, or refuses to lend a helping hand, but it has been a success that was established upon morals, worth, •courage, justice and honor. "Rev. Dr. Walker, I give you my hand, and I want you to un¬ derstand, Sir,that when I give you my hand as Assistant Inspector of the Department of New York, Grand Army of the Republic, 78,599 of the boys who wore the blue in that memorable crisis are taking you by the hand and urging you to remain among us. "The G. A. R. bids you remain. We wish that your life may be spared many years; that abundance, prosperity, and happiness may attend you and this church. This, I am sure, is not only the "hearty wish of every one present, but also that t>f every colored man, woman and child from the Battery to the Spuyten Duyvil.'' # It is not to be doubted that the great interest shown by all •classes in having Dr. Walker remain in New York had much to •do with his subsequent decision. Meanwhile the people of Augusta were not sleeping; they had a mass meeting, also, as the following circular will show: "A mass meeting of the officers, members, friends and well- wishers of Tabernacle Baptist Church will be held in the church on Monday evening, November 18, 1901, at 8 o'clock. Ministers of all the denominations (white and colored), professional and business men, the presidents and prominent men of the fraternal .and benevolent organizations, together with the political and prominent educational leaders of the city of Augusta, will be pres- ten to join in the urgent request to Dr. Charles Thomas Walker 122 Life of Dr. Walker. not to alter his determination to resume his pastorate at Augusta, Ga. "All citizens of Augusta and vicinity are invited to attend a mass meeting to be held at Tabernacle Baptist Church on Monday night, November 18, 1901. "The object of this meeting is to give expression to our feelings regarding the return of Dr. C. T. Walker to the pastorate in this city, and to demonstrate the regard in which we hold him and the real need we feel for his presence. "We desire to show the country the supreme regard in which we hold this man whose labors for the betterment of no race or clan, but of all humanity have made him a worthy servant of his Master and an able leader of the people. "We want our brethren in New York City to feel that we desire not to take from them that which is theirs, but merely to claim our own. Under sufferance we have remained silent until this time, when we are forced by absolute necessity to call upon our metro¬ politan friends to return our Joseph to his brethren and our Moses to his people. "Bishop R. S. Williams, of^the C. M. E. Church, will preside. "Addresses will be made by Rev. W. J. White, D. D., pastor Harmony Baptist Church; Rev. H. Seb. Doyle, M. A., pastor of Trinity C. M. E. Church; Rev. C. S. Wilkins, D. D., pastor Thankful Baptist Church; Rev. W. C. Gaines, pastor Bethel A. M. E. Church; Rev. D. S. Klugh, pastor Union Baptist Church; Rev. F. M. Hyder, pastor Christ Presbyterian Church; Rev. D. J. Flynn, pastor Congregational Church; Rev. S. X. Floyd, A. M., District Missionary American Baptist Publication Society; Life of Dr. Walker. 123 Rev. J.W. Whitehead, pastor of Mt. Moriah Baptist Church; Rev G. W. Harrison, pastor Macedonia Baptist Church; Rev. R. J. Johnson; Rev. A. W. Wilson, pastor Hosanna Baptist Church; Rev. F. M. Hauser, pastor Woodlawn Baptist Church: Rev. Thomas Walker, Dr. George N. Stoney, Dr. W. T. Prichett, Dr. G. S. Burruss, Dr. N. A. Mixson, Dr. A. N. Gordon, Dr. R. C. Williams, P. H. Craig, Esq., Principal Nellieville School; A. W Wimberly, Esq., Collector Internal Revenue; G. J. Scott, Esq., President Union Relief Association; Prof. N. W. Curtright, Prin¬ cipal Walker Baptist Institute; Rev. G. H. Dwelle, pastor Spring¬ field Baptist Church; Prof. A. R. Johnson, Principal Mauge Street School; Prof. I. Blocker, Principal Second Ward School; Dr. Geo. W. Walker, President Paine College; W. J. White, Jr., Associate Editor Georgia Baptist; L. E. Moseley, President Morning Stars of Benevolence; H. B. Sweet, President Brothers and Sisters of Love; John G. Williams, merchant; H. C. Young-, merchant; F. M. Dugas, undertaker; A. J. Winter, President Painters' Union; R. R. Battey, wheelwright; H. D. Paschal, shoe¬ maker; T. B. Newsome, tailor, and other citizens, white and col¬ ored. Music under the direction of Wesley Warren, Choirmaster, and Prof. W. H. E. Carter, Organist? Thus, two churches, separated by more than 800 miles, were claiming and clamoring for the same man to serve them as pastor. The battle waged for many weeks, or until.Dec. 1, 1901, when Dr. Walker decided to continue the pastorate of Mt. Olivet Church with an assistant pastor, keeping his headquarters in New York City, but, in obedience to the wishes of the Augusta church, he agreed to become the nominal pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Under this arrangement, he is to visit the Southern 124 Life of Dr. Walker. church two or three times a year, and, in his absence, he is to sup¬ ply the pulpit. This arrangement pleased all concerned, and, for the present, seems to be working well. CHAPTER XVI. EXTRACTS FROM SERMONS. Wednesday, June 6, 1888, by appointment of the Missionary Baptist State Convention of Georgia, the Rev. Mr. Walker preached the opening- sermon in honor of the one hundredth an¬ niversary of the founding of the Negro Baptist Church in Geor¬ gia. The centennial exercises were conducted on a grand scale, running through ten days, and the fact that he was selected to preach the opening sermon shows the esteem in which he was held by his brethren. Following are some extracts from the sermon preached by the great leader and preacher at that time: WHAT HATH GOD WROUGHT. " 'According to this1 time it shall be said, What hath God wrought.'—Numbers 23 :23. "We stand to-day upon an eminence from which we may take a retrospective view of a one hundred years' journey. This is a glorious day. We have come to celebrate the progress, and tri¬ umphs of a century. We are here to speak of the vicissitudes through which we have passed, the conflicts we have encoun¬ tered, the obstacles we have overcome, the success already at¬ tained, and the victories yet to be achieved. We are here to pass up and down the line of march from 1788 to 1888. Old fathers, worn and weary with burdens and cares of long and useful lives, their heads whitened by the frosts of manv winters, infirm and 125 120 Life of Dr. Walker. superannuated, have come up to shake hands with the century, to bid God-speed to their brethren, and, like Simeon of old, to ex¬ claim, 'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation.' Young men have come to get in¬ spiration from a review of the work of the fathers and to return to their various fields stimulated, electrified and encouraged. "We shall discuss, first, what God has wrought in the perma¬ nent establishment of His church. The founder of the true church is Jesus Christ. He is the Son of Abraham, according to the flesh, and He is also the Son of God. Two natures and three offices mysteriously meet his person. He is the foundation of the true church, the chief corner stone, the lawgiver in Zion. He has given us a kingdom which cannot be moved. He began in Asia to ride in the gospel chariot. He sent out twelve small boats at first. On the dav of Pentecost, 3,000 were added to the number- In 1630, He sent Roger Williams to America. In the spirit of his Master, he planted churches in New England, and the stone con¬ tinued to roll until it reached the sunny South. In 1788, the op¬ pressed, rejected and enslaved brother in black, for the first time in Georgia, lifted the Baptist flag under the leadership of Andrew Bryan. The handful of corn was sown not on the high, wild and rocky mountains, but on the seaboard; but the wind carried the seed to every part of Georgia and the barren rocks and sandy deserts became gardens of the Lord. From that handful of corn have sprung more than 1,500 churches, 500 ordained preachers, and 166,429 communicants. The little one has become a thou¬ sand. In the entire United States there are to-day more than 1,250,000 colored Baptists. I make bold "to say here and now that the progress of the Baptists in this country has been due to the Life of Dr. Walker. 127 earnest, faithful and simple preaching of Christ crucified. The fathers in their preaching did not preach philosophy, nor did they strive to reach the people with rhetorical strains of eloquence, but they strove to reach the people by preaching the plain, old- fashioned, simple truths of the gospel. The gospel declared in its truth and simplicitv will make Baptists. "Third, we shall discuss what God has wrought for our race during this century. For our race, this century was one of hard¬ ship, oppression, persecution and sore trial. We were slaves; we "had no moral training; no intellectual advantages during the greater part of this century and the two preceding; we were run "by bloodhounds; sometimes whipped to death; we were sold from the auction block, husbands and fathers being separated from wives and children at the behest of some white man; we had to get a ticket to go to church; we had to get permission from some white man before we could join the church; we were out¬ casts. But all that has been changed. God was against slavery, and in his own time and way He removed the foul blot from the national escutcheon. Emancipated without a dollar, without edu¬ cation, without friends and without competent leaders, like Hagar and Ishmael, we were turned out to die. But despite all obstacles, the Negro in Georgia has to-day $10,000,000 worth of property and has proven himself worthy of citizenship. We have thou¬ sands of children in our public schools. Our men will be found in the law, in the practice of medicine, in legislative halls, among teachers and professors, on the list of authors, skilled musicians, journalists, theologians and business men. God 4ias wrought wonderfully among us. God is still opening the way for greater progress. The cry is loud and long all along the line for conse- 128 Life of Dr. Walker. crated workers. The harvest truly is white but the laborers are few. "A last thing, we would urge upon you by way of application. We need more earnestness and simplicity in proclaiming the gos¬ pel. Our fathers were men of one book. They received power from on high by constant prayerfiilness, and proclaimed earnest¬ ly and plainly what they understood. They felt like Paul, 'Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of; neces¬ sity is laid upon me; yea, woe is me if I preach-not the gospel. The gospel is the intervention of Jesus Christ to save lost men. It is heaven's appointed remedy for man's malady; and the direc¬ tions for taking the .medicine must be so plain that the fool may take it assured of the fact that he will be healed. The gospel is a ship loaded with the bread of life, and must be brought so near the landing that the hungry can reach forth and take the bread of life. The gospel is the announcement of reconciliation between God and the sinner, a message of mercy, the history of the advent of Christ, His life, miracles, death, burial, resurrection, ascension and intercession. The gospel is the Messiah's conquering, trium¬ phal car. There is power and magnetism about it. It is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth. It must be preached in its purity, in its simplicity, and with blood-earnest¬ ness. Man has been honored of God in being chosen to carry this holy message. Beginning a new century in the history of our denomination, let us carry this message with the same earnestness as did our fathers. Discourage inactivity, coldness, indifference, formalism in our preaching, and denounce spasmodic religion among our hearers. Contend earnestly for those principles which have been the very life of Baptists. The gospel must go, Life of Dr. Walker. 129 like the sun shining in his strength, scattering all clouds from the face of the world, until the moon and the stars shall be lost in its effulgence." GO FORWARD. The following extract is from a sermon preached by Dr. Walker before the Walker Baptist Association at Summerville, near Au¬ gusta, Ga., in September, 1899. Following the sermon, he raised a cash collection of $342.00 for the Walker Baptist Institute from poor country farmers. " 'And the Lord said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward.'— Exodus 14:15. "For more than 400 years the Israelites had been slaves in Egypt. God's time for deliverance had come. Moses, his serv¬ ant, is sent as ambassador to the court of Egypt with divine cre¬ dentials to represent the court of heaven. Pharaoh refuses to obey the mandates of the mighty God, and ten or more plagues are sent upon the land. The cruel ruler decides to let Israel go. The mighty host, about three million strong, began their march. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night led them; they start out on the wilderness route, a distance of over four hundred miles. They rallied at Rameses, and marched out in wide columns. "The Israelites were on foot. They were pursued by Pharaoh with 600 chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and cap¬ tains over each of them. The very flower of the Egyptian army hotly pursued the people of God; and, as Israel came to the Red Sea, at a point where it was probably ten miles wide, they saw mountains on either side, the sea in front of them, and the Egyp¬ tian army behind them. Many of the Israelites became faint- y DR. CHARLES T. WALKER AT THIRTY YEARS OK AGE. Life of Dr. Walker. 131 hearted and murmured against Moses. He said unto them: 'Stand still, see the salvation of God, for the Egyptians you have seen to-day you will see no more forever.' Moses seemed to have been praying to God secretly, for there is no record of his public prayer. Yet the Lord said unto him, 'Wherefore criest thou unto me ? Speak unto the children that they go forward.' Man's extremity is God's opportunity. The last of man is the first of God—God takes up where man leaves off. Prayer, diligence and effort go together. There is a time to pray, and then a time to act, to move. God seemed to say, 'You have prayed—now obey or¬ ders. Go forward.' The leaders' moved off to the edge of the sea; the mighty waters divided—the Eternal God cut a pathway for the moving caravan. It was in the morning watch, or be¬ tween 2 o'clock in the morning and sunrise. The king of day soon dispelled the darkness, and all day long the tramp, tramp of the footsteps of the Israelites was heard passing between the giant mountains of water. The angel, who had guarded them and led them, changed his position from front to rear, and got between the Israelites and the Egyptians. The Eternal God fully protects his people. As the last column of Israel passed, the Egyptian host came in. They traveled for a while as safely as did the Israelites, until the last chariot had left the bank, and when they were all out in the sea, and all Israel on the other side, Moses stretched out his rod over the sea, the waters came together and deluged the Egyp¬ tian army, while the Israelites saw the dead bodies of the Egyp¬ tians washed against the banks. "I would have you notice that " (i) Diligence and action must accompany prayer. Jesus taught his disciples to watch and pray. We are to pray for guidance, 132 Life of Dr. Walker. ■for direction, for strength, for conformity to God's will, for clean hearts, for the renewal of the Spirit, for the coming and extension of God's' kingdom, and then watch and seize the opportunities for work under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Joshua prayed, and then rallied his men while the sun stood still on Gibeon and the moon stood in the valley of Ajalon. God stopped the sun and moon; Israel did the fighting. A Quaker going along the Valley Forge road, heard some one in the thick brush praying. He turned aside to see who it was; he found a man in deep supplication, face suffused with tears, calling upon God for help. It was General Washington, praying for the success of the American army. He prayed for it, and then rose up and fought for it, and was victo¬ rious. " (2) In order to go there must be reconciliation with God. The Lord is pledged to those who have become reconciled to him. through Christ. Elijah built an altar, filled up the trenches, put the sacrifice upon the altar, got everything ready, and then prayed for fire. He was heard, for he was reconciled to God. Abraham was called from Mesopotamia to wander along the banks of the Euphrates; he left all he possessed for what was promised. He was reconciled to God. The language of the Christian is: 'My God is reconciled; I hear his pardoning voice; I can no longer fear; With confidence I now draw near, And Abba, Father, Abba, cry.' " (3) They were not ordered to the right hand nor to the left, but to go forward. The road to victory is often through seas, through the fire, over mountains, through floods and through flames. We must go through the world's wild forest of tribulation, through Life of Dr. Walker. 133 the den of lions, over the mountains of leopards, through the fiery furnace, but we must go. "(4) The guarding angel went from front to rear and stood be¬ tween Israel and the Egyptian army—so did the cloud. They passed over and saw their enemies destroyed. When 'you obey God, he secures and protects you. The angels encamp around to deliver. Caesar said to his boatmen: 'You can't sink, for you carry great Caesar.' But the child of God can sing with boldness and assurance: 'How can I die while Jesus lives As my Eternal God? Who holds the earth's huge pillars up And spreads the heavens abroad. 'How can I sink with such a prop Who rose and left the dead? Pardon and peace my soul receives From my exalted head.' " THE RESURRECTION. The following is an extract from an Easter -Sermon delivered by Dr. Walker at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, April 7, 1901. The sermon was published in pamphlet form at the request of the church: " 'To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speak¬ ing of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.'—Acts 1:3- "The presence of the two angels in shining white from the glory world, and the empty grave were evidences of Christ's resurrec¬ tion, but not infallible proofs. Technically speaking, they would be considered circumstantial evidence, but our text declares there were many infallible proofs of Ijis resurrection. 134 Life of Dr. Walker. "The infallible proofs of his resurrection are to be found in his appearances at different times in various places, to different peo¬ ple. "First he appeared to Mary Magdalene. She recognized his voice, and said, 'Rabboni,' which means, 'My Master, my Teacher.' She recognized his loving voice and turned to grasp his hands, but he said, 'Touch me not, for I have not yet ascended to my God, and to your God; but tell Peter and my disciples I have gone be¬ fore them into Galilee; there shall they see me.' Then he appeared to two disciples on the way to Emmaus, 7J4 miles from Jerusalem, talking sadly, as they journeyed, on the crucifixion, and of their disappointment. Then Jesus, as he journeyed with them, began to speak of the fulfilment of the prophecy, and to rebuke them for their unbelief of the Scriptures; when their eyes became open, they found it was their Lord. The same evening he ap¬ peared to ten of them shut up in a room for fear of the Jews. Thomas being absent. Eight days after that time he appeared to eleven, Thomas being present. Paul states that he was seen of Peter. He met the disciples at the Sea of Tiberius. And then he was seen of the twelve, as he gave the marching order from Oli¬ vet's brow. He was seen of five hundred of the brethren at once. He was seen of James, Then Paul says, last of all, 'He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.' "Christ's resurrection occurred at the time of year when nature was being revived from the effects of bleak winter; spring had burst forth in greenness and beauty, the birds were singing their cheerful lays—nature was vocal with His praise; earth was put¬ ting on her spring costume, representing a resurrection of all na¬ ture from the death and grave of the winter. So our Lord chose Life of Dr. Walker. 135 that season of the year to come out from the tomb when all nature was teaching the lesson of the resurrection. "Christ's resurrection proved several things. It proved that he was the real Christ, the Holy One. They had said he was a deceiver. He had said that he would lay down his life and take it up again. Real divinity, which had never died, resurrected hu¬ manity. Here the Godhead sustained manhood and revived hu¬ manity. They killed his manhood, but divinity was untouched; and on the third day Divinity restored humanity to life. "It settled the atonement, made it efficacious and gave power to the gospel. If Christ had remained in the grave the claims of justice would have been unsatisfied; reconciliation between God and the sinner would not have been effected; heaven and earth could not have been united. Paul.says: 'If Christ be not risen, our faith is vain; we are yet in our sins, and we are found false witnesses.' God sealed him as the world's Redeemer in his resur¬ rection. " It is a greater attestation of heaven's approval than the voice at his baptism, transfiguration, and prayer for special glori¬ fication. He proved his right to leadership. He dignified and exalted humanity. He reinstated man to> favor with God. He founded his kingdom on the impregnable rock of truth, and the kingdoms of this world must become the kingdoms of our Lord and his Christ. "His resurrection was necessary for our justification. For if he had not risen, man could not be justified with God, for our faith must rest upon a crucified, buried and risen Redeemer. "His resurrection was necessary for the payment of the price of our redemption. It was to be a victory over sin, for he was to. 136 Life of Dr. Walker. put away sin in the flesh and establish the reign of righteousness. It was to be a victory over the world; he was to have power in heaven and in earth, and hence must conquer the earth and subdue it; and his resurrection proved his power over nature, over dis¬ ease, over death and over the grave. "It was also a victory over Satan, for Satan was styled the prince of this world. The earth he claimed as his territory. He said to Jesus on the Mount of Temptation, that the world with all of its glory belonged to him, and he promised it to Christ if Christ would fall down and worship him. Christ chose to win the world by entering into conflict with Satan and overcoming him by his divine power. "Ten years ago I stood on holy ground at the sepulchre where it is believed that our Lord was laid. And it seemed on that morn¬ ing that I could hear again the message of the angels, 'He is not here, he is risen as he said; come, see the place where the Lord lay.' I bowed down on my knees and said, 'Thank God this is an empty tomb; the Lord is risen indeed.' His resurrection was not only the stupendous manifestation of his power, but it was the exceeding greatness of his power. The Scripture gives us many exhibitions of the greatness of Christ's power. We have an exhibition of it in his first miracle, wrought at Cana of Galilee, when he turned the water into wine; there was a wonderful demonstration of power in stilling the tempest on the Sea of Galilee, when nature heard him and obeyed—the raging, surging billows calmed down at the voice of him who said, 'Peace, be still.' His giving sight to the blind, casting out devils, healing diseases, raising Lazarus, the widow's son of Nain, and the ruler's daughter, all were wonderful demonstrations of the power of the Life of Dr. Walker. 137 incarnate Christ. But the exceeding greatness of his power was not even seen in his causing darkness at high noon, while on Cal¬ vary, but it was the resurrecting of himself from the grave. O, thou living Christ, thou resurrected Jesus, live on to die no more! The exceeding greatness of thy power was seen in the resurrection of thyself from the dead!" CHAPTER XVII. EXTRACTS FROM ORATIONS AND ADDRESSES. In this chapter will be found some extracts from orations and addresses delivered at different times and in different places by Dr. Walker. It has not been thought advisable to publish these addresses in full in this volume. For one thing, it would make the book too large for present purposes, and for another thing, it is proposed to issue later on a separate volume of his speeches and addresses, and also a volume of his sermons. These extracts will, nevertheless, serve to illustrate the lucid style of Dr. Walker and give some idea of the scope of the subjects treated by him from time to time. Tuesday evening, Oct. 8, 1901, public memorial services were held in Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, New York City, by the Saloon- men's Protective Union No. 1, a benevolent association, in honor of the late President McKinley. Dr. Walker accepted the invita¬ tion to deliver the principal address. More than 2,000 people were present at the exercises. He delivered the following EULOGY ON PRESIDENT MCKINLEY. "It was' said of Franklin when he died that the genius that had freed America and poured a flood of light over Europe had re¬ turned to the bosom of divinity. We are here this evening to honor the memory of our late President, who reunited the Amer- 138 Life of Dr. Walker. 139 ican nation, was the advance agent of protection and prosperity, universally beloved and deservedly popular. It is highly appro¬ priate that the colored citizens of the metropolis of America should, in common with all other American citizens, pay honor to the noble-hearted, high-minded, Christian chief executive of the nation, who so recently passed to the great beyond. "President McKinley came from the common people, and was always in sympathy with the masses. It was often said that he kept his ear close to the ground, listening for the voice of the peo¬ ple. It may be as truly said that he kept his ear open to hear the command of his Maker, for he had triumphant Christian faith. ****** "Mr. McKinley came to the executive chair at a crucial period of the nation's existence. Hard times, strikes, unrest, scarcity of money, were problems with which he was confronted. The war with Spain was soon waged; grave problems had to be faced and solved, and all these he disposed of in a statesmanlike manner. "It has been claimed by many colored people that Mr.McKinley was not specially friendly to the Negro, and that colored men did not receive much recognition under his administration. Such a statement is made either because of ignorance of the truth or from misconception. I am one of those who believe the colored man should not stop to worry about position and office under any ad¬ ministration. That is a secondary consideration. Equal rights before the law, protection to life and property, the right to exist, the right to vote, the right to earn a living, the right to be a mail, the right to be a freedman and a freeman, the right to expect equal 140 Life of Dr. Walker. and exact justice irrespective of creed; color or condition, is a greater privilege than being an officeholder. And yet, Mr. Mc- Kinley was the representative of a party which had enacted every piece of constructive legislation that we know anything about for the advancement of the colored people. Under his administration practical recognition was given to more colored citizens than under any other president. He appointed twelve men in the diplomatic and consular service. A colored man was appointed as Reg¬ ister of the Treasury, a colored man was appointed as Recorder of Deeds for the District of Columbia, a colored man was appointed United States Stamp Agent; colored men were appointed collect¬ ors of internal revenue in several States; collectors of ports, post¬ masters, collectors of census returns, land office registers, receivers of public moneys, and scores of minor Federal appointments throughout the country were given to colored men. Two distin¬ guished colorel men were appointed paymasters in the U. S. V. during the Spanish-American War. In that same war, there were 260 colored commissioned officers and 15,000 enlisted men. In the 48th and 49th regiments, the President appointed 24 Negro captains, 50 Negro first lieutenants, 48 second lieutenants, with 2,688 enlisted men. It is estimated that, under Mr. McKinley's administration, colored men drew $8,477,000. "Not only did the President show his interest in the race by these and other appointments, but by his visits to several of our Southern schools, such as Tuskegee, the Georgia State Industrial College, and the Prairie View Normal School in Texas. At each of these schools he made excellent speeches, in which he spoke handsomely of the military prowess and patriotism of 'the brave Life of Dr. Walker. 141 black boys,' as well as of the industrial and educational progress of the Negro. * * * * * * "There is uneasiness in some sections concerning the attitude of Mr. McKinley's successor toward our race. We have no cause to fear President Roosevelt. His past record entitles him to the confidence, love and respect of this American nation. He has a public record in times of peace and war of which this American nation should be proud. I have but to refer to him as Police Com¬ missioner of New York City, as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, as Civil Service Commissioner, where he made it possible for a larger number of intelligent and worthy colored men to hold per¬ manent positions than has been made possible by any other man in the nation. His administration as Governor of the Empire State was on- of fairness and impartiality. He will always be remem¬ bered as leading the Rough Riders up San Juan Heights, through the high grass, cutting the barb-wire fences, repulsing the Spanish soldiers, capturing the block house, planting Old Glory on the ramparts of Santiago, hastening the surrender of General Toral to General Shafter, and thereby freeing oppressed, suffering, bleed¬ ing Cuba. "While Mr. McKinley made a great record as a soldier, states¬ man and president, he stands out conspicuously in the galaxy of presidents for his triumphant Christian faith. He said on one oc¬ casion, 'A religious spirit helps every man. It is at once a com¬ fort and an inspiration, and makes one stronger, wiser and better in every relalron of life. There is no substitute for it. It may be 142 Life of Dr. Walker. assailed by its enemies, as it has been, but they offer nothing in its place. It has stood the test of centuries, and has never failed to bless mankind.' He was shot by a ruthless assassin, Sept. 6, 1901. The conduct of the president at that tragic moment was like that of the Lord. In the shadow of death, as he had done in the execu¬ tive mansion, he protested against mob violence, and said, refer¬ ring to the murderer, 'Let no harm be done him.' Our dear dead President was again like our Christ when he said, just before yielding up the ghost, 'Good bv; all, good bve; it is God's way; let his will be done, not ours.' His last prayer.was one of submis¬ sion and resignation to the will of the great God in whom he had so long trusted. And then, while standing on the interlacing margin of eternity, he repeated the Lord's prayer and chanted 'Nearer, my God, to thee, nearer to thee.5 And lifting up his eyes on the land afar off, he beheld the King in his beauty, and fell on that long and tranquil sleep, hanging up his garments in the wardrobe of nations to rest until the archangel's trump shall disturb the long disordered creation, and soul and body shall be reunited. 5}< ^ 5{C "The race of which we are members feels proud of the part played by James B. Parker in preventing the assassin from firing the third shot, though prejudice has prevented his receiving his due meed of praise. But let us not despair. Mr. McKinley is not dead to this American nation. Pie is still joined to us by the past, and by the still more glorious anticipations of the future. Heaven has discussed the sins of America as Lincoln, Garfield and Mc¬ Kinley, our martyred Presidents, have walked the golden streets, arm in arm. Too long have we winked at crime, lawlessness and Life of Dr. Walker. 143 anarchy. And we must yet learn that the highest citizen is not safe so long as the life of the lowest citizen is not protected." From Dr. Walker's celebrated "Reply to Hannibal Thomas," which he has delivered in many American cities, next will be given two or three short extracts. The lecture, lengthened somewhat by additional facts and tables, has been published in pamphlet form. The pamphlet contains about 31 pages, and is well worth reading. REPLY TO HANNIBAL, THOMAS. "Allow me to state that the author of 'The American Negro' has given us a book that will pass as a well-written, and in some respects, scholarly production. He has given important and in¬ teresting historical information and some advice that no sensible Negro will object to. On the other hand, he has made such sweep¬ ing charges against his own race—false charges, slanderous charges, malicious charges—as to entitle him to pass alongside of Judas Iscariot, Benedict Arnold and Aaron Burr, the trinity of traitors. 3^ 5^ * ¥ V •f' "In his chapter on 'Characteristic Traits,' Mr. Thomas charges that the Negro represents an illiterate race, in which cowardice, ignorance and idleness are rife. In reply, I ask that Mr. Thomas read the history of the wars of this country from colonial times to the present days. Let him acquaint himself with the 54th Massa¬ chusetts regiment in the late Civil War; let him inform himself of the deportment of Negro soldiers at Cold Harbor, Fort Pillow, Fort Donelson, Fort Wagner, Port Royal, Port Hudson, Peters¬ burg and Palmetto Ranch. Let him learn something about San Juan Hill and El Caney. Then ask him about this charge. It will 144 Life of Dr. Walker. fall of its own weight. As to ignorance among the colored race, it may be stated that they have decreased their illiteracy by nearly one-half since emancipation; they have given $13,000,000 towards their own education; they have 17,000 graduates; 500 doctors; 400 lawyers; 1,000 authors; 5 banks; 6 magazines, and 500 news¬ papers. At the close of the war, there were not more than 75 Ne¬ gro teachers in the United States. To-day, we have more than 30,000 men and women of the race engaged in teaching school. There are yet many ignorant Negroes, just as there are still many ignorant whites, and the whites had a start on us of 250 years. As to idleness, there is a great deal of idleness among colored peo¬ ple—that is true; but you will find a smaller number of idlers, loafers, beggars and tramps among colored people in propor¬ tion to their numbers than among any other race. His criticism on Northern teachers who entered the South immediately after the war to lift up the recently emancipated Negro is unwarranted, as well as is the slap at Northern philanthropists for making con¬ tributions out of their princely munificence toward removing illit¬ eracy among Southern Negroes. Their money was wisely spent, as can be clearly seen in the thousands of men and women who have been trained at these mission schools. The great men and women who went from the North to teach the despised Negro did the best work of their lives. Hampton Institute would have done good for the race if it had not educated any other man except Booker T. Washington; for he has inspired his entire race, and is to-day doing for the race what a thousand Hannibal Thomases could not do. Hannibal Thomas is pessimistic; Booker T. Washington is optimistic. Hannibal Thomas is grumbling; Booker Washington is working. Life of Dr. Walker. 145 "With regard to Negro men seeking to marry white women, it is untrue of the masses. Nearly all of our men are satisfied to marry the women of the race to which they belong. We have women as good and as pure and as beautiful as any other race; and, as to variety, we excel them. "I state it as my opinion that the solution of the so-called Negro Problem does not depend upon emigration, amalgamation nor colonization. The Negro must learn that character, industry, education and money are the essential prerequisites for intelligent citizenship. Let the American white man decide to lend a helping hand to' his struggling black brother on life's highway; give him justice, equal and exact justice, North and South, East and West." At the famous Golden Rule Meeting held at Calvary Baptist Church, West 57th Street, New York City, March 26, 1901, Dr. Walker represented the Negro race. The object of the Golden Rule Society is to do away with race prejudice and religious in¬ tolerance as far as possible. Jews, the followers of Confucius, and Protestants took part in the meeting. Rabbi Schulman and Rabbi Silverman represented the Jews, Wu Ting-fang, the Chi¬ nese minister to this country, represented Confucianism, and Dr. R. S. Macx\rthur, the pastor of Calvary Baptist Church, and one of the very ablest pulpit orators and lecturers in the world, Gen. T. L. James, Dr. R. Heber Newton, Edwin Markham, the poet, and Dr. Walker were among the prominent Protestants on the program. Dr. Walker was the only colored speaker and was next to the last on the list of participants. More than three thousand people were packed into* Calvary's great auditorium. The audi¬ ence had already been' kept for nearly two hours when it came his 10 REV. CHARGES T. WALKER, ON HIS RETURN FROM HIS TRIP TO THE HOId forever, Bye and bye.' "Such hymns were s'ung with the intonation peculiar to the singing of colored congregations in the South. Men and women arose, and as the singing progressed, their bodies rocked and,their feel kept time to the swing of the melodies. "The greatest single victory over sin in the minds of those pres¬ ent was the conversion and baptism of Mrs1. Octavia Adams, of No. T17 E. 21st St., the city home of the late Col. Robert G. Inger- soll. Mrs. Adamis had been a cook in the family for years." From Xew York Tribune, March 12, 1900: "One hundred and eighty-four persons were baptized by im¬ mersion at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, Fifty Third Street, near Life of Dr. Walker. 161 Broadway yesterday morning. Of this number 89 were women. In all 408 persons were received into the church. It was orig¬ inally intended that 233 persons should be received in the church by baptism, but of that number 49 did not present themselves. The remainder were received into the church on profession of faith. The baptismal ceremonies were conducted by Rev. C. T. Walker, the pastor of the church, and Deacon Webb. "During the baptism ceremonies religious fervor was worked up to such a sta'e that cev2'al women md two men fain ed. Three women fainted wh'le being imm rse K All, however, were revived. "For five weeks, the Rev. Mr. Walker has been conducting re- . vival services in the church, and yesterday's ceremonies were the result of the work of conversion. "Anticipating the crush that would be at the church, and fearful that there might be trouble in handling it, Capt. Donohue, of the West 47th Street Station, detailed five patrolmen from his com¬ mand to remain at the church during the services. Several times the patrolmen were forced to resort to rather roug1-1 tactics in or¬ der to keep the big crowd in check. Finally at the request of the church officials, the police cleared the big corridors of the church and drove several hundred persons who vere late in a'riving into the street. "The jam about the ■ hurch was te rific. T very conceivabls vantage point was ake ~ inside the bi-- audit rirm long before the services were begun. "People were jammed in the church like sardines. 'Th^y filled the aisles and stood about three or four deep about, the pulpit. Some time before the service began, the church was filled and the police were instructed not to allow more to enter. Then, l^egan a 11 162 Life of Dr. Walker. wild scramble. In a few minutes there were fully 1,000 persons struggling; in the vestibu1e and on the pavement outside the church. "The candidates for baotism were seated in the center of the church, the women on cne side of the aisles, while the men, black- robed and in their stocking feet, were on the other side. "The women were all clad in loose fitting white flannel gowns. The majority of them had white ribbons in their hair. The reg¬ ular sermon was preached by Rev. S. X. Floyd of Augusta, Ga. '"The women were taptized first, the children and men last. The first to be immersed was a little blind girl; as she was brought up dripping from the big tank she cried, 'Thank God, I am saved.' The chi'd's cry was taken up by the big congregation. "While the men were being baptized somebody in the congre¬ gation began singing, 'Bye-and-bye'; the song was quickly taken up by the entire congregation and the religious enthusiasm was increased. Men and women arose in their 5eats, and while they sang they waved books and handkerchiefs. "It was announced 5 r the Rev. Mr. Wa'ker that on the list of converts were men and women from every clime. There were several blind, deaf a-d dumb. Mr. Walker said that among those who received baptism was a colored woman who for many years had been employed in the household of the lata Robert G. Inger- soll,.the agiustic." From the New York Times, May 7, 1900: "Mount Olivet Baptist Church celebrated yesterdav its 22nd anniversary with afternoon and evening meetings. The exer¬ cises were held in Carnegie Hall which was crowded not only with the members of the congregation, but with colored Odd Fel- Life of Dr. Walker. 163 lows and other societies and colored residents of the different bor¬ oughs. "The meeting was more or less a congratu'a'ory one to the Rev. Dr. C. T. Walker, whose pastorate b gan seven months ago, when he came here from Augusta Ga. The Trustees' report showed that the church had hrd the mcst prosp rous year in its existence, and although covert ref rences were mad: by the speakers to the troubles of the Rev. Mr. Wisher, the old sores have been healed and everybody was in harmony. "In April of last year the church was in debt exclusive of a mortgage of $19,500, in the sum of $1,400 with $100.80 in the treasury. Since then there have been paid for running expenses $6,168.88, and there ;s now a balance on hand of $899.71. With¬ in Dr. Walker's pas o ate, ever 800 members have been added. "The collection yesterday morning brought in $1,269.16. \t the evening services this sum was swelled to $1,634.46. To this will be added $1,000 taken in at recent collections. The an¬ nouncement was made hat I hn D. and William Rockefeller were 4 amor^ the cent butors in the- past an 1 that the City Mission had borne the 'white man's burden' in helping to raise the big church del t to the amount of So.000. "The Rev. Dr. R. S. MacArthur, of Calvary Baptist Church, spoke in compl'mcntr.ry terms of the work of Dr. Walker. " 'I consider him the most valuable acquisition to the ministry of this great city/ he said. 'If you can s;~are him fcr some service I want him to come and speak in Calvary. My people want good preaching, and he is a good preacher. And if you will put up with me, I'll come to you for one service.' (Laughter and ap¬ plause followed this remark.) 164 Life of Dr. Walker. "Dr. Mac Arthur t1" en made a \ lea. for general education among the colored people, and said: 'It has made me boil with indigna¬ tion when I have seen the door shut in the face of black men and opened to white men with black hearts.'" From the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, March 20, 1900: "Rev. C. T. Walker, the 'Black Spurgeon,' who has lately ac¬ quired the sub-name of the 'Black John the Baptist' by the big re¬ sults of the recently held revival in New York, delivered a strong lecture at his former churc\ Tabernacle Baptist, on Ellis Street, last night to a crowded house. "TJt subject used bv Rev. Walker was 'The Xegro for the Twentieth Century " He took as a special theme the necessity of the Negro racs patronizing their o.\n enterprises and learning to have confidence in hemselves that the whits race has in itself. He bore heavily upon the importance to his race of an industrial education. "He said that the Negro must put aside the ante-bellum belief of their absolute dep:ndence upon the whites and stand solely upon the'r own eff rts. He said that p ejudi:e was very general against the colore 1 m n and it rested entirely wit'i him whether in the days to come the race will a'.tain that place which it should attain. He especially advised his h arers to spread the necessity of eharact:r-bu'lding among their people that this end might be reached. They should all think more of upholding themselves individually and collec i ely; the/ must all rave more respect for their women, since in them, '.0 a great degree, lives what the lead¬ ers of the race are working fcr. The parents should be especially particular to see that their boys and g'rls were educated in the trades, that they lr.ay b? taug t the hurtfulness of idleness and the Life of Dr. Walker. 165 profit of being always employed at something which would be beneficial. "At the conclusion of his address, to maks this point more forceful, he asked all of the professional and business men pres¬ ent to stand up. A large number responded, and he pointed them out as an example for the idle to follow." From the Fall River. Mass., Evening News: "The people who< turned out to hear Rev. C. T. Walker, D. D., speak at the Royal Arcanum Hall, on Bank Street, on Thursday night, were abundantly rewarded for ignoring the rain. Dr. Walker is one of the best known' colored men in this country. He ranks with Booker T. Washington in prominence, and has won this prominence through intelligence and ability. He is now Pas¬ tor of Mount Olivet Baptist Church in New York City, one of the largest and strongest churches among the colored people of the North. His* reputation as a more than local man of note was won while he was pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church of Augusta, Ga. He secured the funds to erect the building, and made the church one of the biggest among his people in the South. "Dr. Walker is a r.markab'e man, cne whom it would repay anybody to meet. He was born a slave in 1858. Left an orphan when only eight years of age, he worked as a field hand until he was fifteen years old, when he began to study for the ministry. Largely through his own effcrts he has become a man of notably large and broad education. He has traveled extensively, and has a great fund of material for use both in the pulpit and in talks and lectures. When one has heard him talk the main element of his notable success in life becomes apparent. He is a bom orator. His gift has been cultivated to fine advantage. He has that qual- 166 Life of Dr. Walker. ity of voice which makes speaking to large assemblies of peoole no difficult task. There is no suggestion of the shouting preacher in his method, but his voice carries naturally and easily. It was apparent that he was accustom 2d to speaking in much larger halls than the one in which he was heard last night. His voice was rather crowded there when he was specially earnest. He is very eloquent and may well be called "Th2 Black Spurgeon of Amer¬ ica.' His fund of humor is inexhastible. This humor took well with his audience. Many of those present were old ac¬ quaintances." From the Georgia Baptist (Augusta, Ga.), July 20, 1899. "It has been known for some weeks that the Mount Olivet Bap¬ tist Church, of New York City, with fifteen hundred present, had extended a unanimous call to Dr. C. T. Walker, of our city, to ac¬ cept its pastorate. "The universal hope of our community has been that Dr. Walker would decline this call as flattering as it is and remain in Augusta. No man in Augusta has a deeper hold upon the whole community than Dr. Walker. His success as a pastor of Taber¬ nacle Baptist Church in this city for the past fourteen years has been phenomenal and humanly speaking it does not appear that a man can be found to lake his place at this church. Aside from Tabernrcle Church, all the people of Augusta, white and colored, are anxious that Dr. Walker remain in Augusta. Should he de¬ cide to accept the call to New York, Dr. Walker will leave be¬ hind him thousands of loving hearts whose prayers will follow him wherever his lot may be cast." From the Augusta (Ga/), Chronicle, March 27, 1901 : "Will D. Upshaw, of Mercer University, who spent Sunday Life of Dr. Walker. 1G7 and part of yesterday in Augusta, left for Macon at 4 o'clock yes¬ terday afternoon. He is re urning from a stay of several months in New York, where he has been in the interest of a loan fund at Mercer, and where, as press reports and his subscription list in¬ dicate, he did' some excellent and successful work for the great Georgia College. " Speaking of preachers in New York, Mr. Ups'haw said, 'A!any people in Augusta will be gratified to learn that your city recently sent to the metropolis a man who is preaching to the largest crowds of any man in New York, either white or colored. I refer to none other than Charles T. Walker, 'The Black Spur- geon,' so lcng and favorably known in Augusta. I confess that as a Georgian, I felt a great deal of pride and congratulation for my own State, to see with my own eyes the remarkable work he is doing and hear (n all sides many expressions of commenda¬ tion concerning him. I had the pleasure of speaking in his church several times. On the Sunday night on which I spoke, 1,500 peo¬ ple packed the house, and on another occasion, in company with Dr. Frank Rogers Morse, the accomplished associate .pastor of Calvary Church, I at'ended the services and heard the pastor preach to an overflowing audience that crowded floor and galleries, and it is no disparagement to the white brethren to say that his sermon was one of the most forceful I heard in the metropolis. Dr. Walker's congregations are growing until he has to hold overflow meetings' in the lecture room. You will find many Negroes of fine education and genuine culture while there is a refreshing sprink¬ ling—I use the word 'refreshing' advisedly—of t'e old-fashioned 'Georgia darkey,' whom Alex Bealer describes so strikingly, who keeps the speaker in good spirits by the occasional lusty 'Amen.'" 168 Life of Dr. Walker. "When Dr. Walker took hold of the church, it had been some¬ what divided by the political sermons of his predecessor; but the present pastor has had the good sense to steer clear of such break¬ ers. Now the large' church is united and harmonious, and much genuine good is being done. Dr. Morse, who often acts as an ad¬ visory friend of the colored church, in speaking to me of t'.e new pastor, said, 'Mr. Walker is a true man, really a remarkable man, and the work he is doing is marvelous.' "In speaking of the con rlbution which Rev. Charles T. Walker is making to the solution of the race problem by his' presence and work in the Nort\ Mi. Upshaw said: " 'I have heard Rev. Walker deliver an address by special re¬ quest of the New York Baptist ministers' crnfe ence, which, while true to race, as all honest men wanted him to be, was so fair and sensible that he deserves the commendation of all white men, and especially all Southern men. In that Northern atmosphere, where many of his hearers not only expected but possibly wished this distinguished Southern Negro to flay his former neighbors, Charlie Walker had the common sense not to make one single sec¬ tional allusion. He never used the words "North" or "South," throughout his entire address. He discussed the sad fact of un¬ due race prejudice, not from a sectional but a racial standpoint, and plead with an eloquence that was as touching as it was thrill¬ ing, that his race be admitted to progress everywhere on the cre¬ dentials of worth and justice. " 'Dr. C. O. Pope, so well known in Augusta, and now Presi¬ dent of Simmons' College, in Texas, was in the audience, and when Dr. Walker sat down atrid many cheers, and maybe, some tears, Dr. Pope arose and told the people that he was raised in the Life of Dr. Walker. 169 community with Charles Walker's father, and having known from hoy hood the man who had addressed them, he wished to bear tes¬ timony to the worth of the man, and the truth and fairness of what' he had said. " 'It was my own pleasure to supplement Dr. Pope's words along the same line and by an emphasis of what I had told the ministers' conference in a s'peech before Dr. Walker's coming— that if there were more Charles T. Walkers and Booker T. Wash¬ ington, there would be less race problems in the South.' "'When the Chronicle reporter smiled and suggested that he was giving the former Augusta pas or very high praise, Mr. Upshaw smiled pleasantly in turn and said: " 'Yes, I know I am, but I am ding it deliberately and unre¬ servedly.' " 'I believe that when a worthy Negro like Charles T. Walker, with faith in God and love for man, a humanity that cannot be spoiled by praise, breaks through conditions and tendencies that keep so many of his race below honor and progress, it is only just and right that his more fortunate white neighbor should give him the credit due, take him by the hand and say: "God bless you. If you are honestly trying to lift up yourself and your people, I will honestly help you to be true to yourself, to your people and to God." From the Georgia Baptist, Nov. 15, 1901 : "No man, white or colored, has gom fron the South to New York, the greet commercial metropolis of this country, and made for himself in so short a time a reputation and friends that our Dr. Walker has. 170 Life of Dr. Walker. "As highly regarded as he has been for years in Augusta, his real worth to the denomination, the country and the race has not been fully understood until he entered the pastorate in New York City. Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, of which he is pastor in New York, is no more'anxious that he continue his labors with them than are the thousands of his friends outside of his church. The mass meeting, called at Mt. Olivet Church, Xov. 6, at which hun¬ dreds gathered to give expression to the great desire that Dr. Walker continue his work in that city, was presided over by the distinguished Dr. MacArthur, one of the leading white ministers of the country. Bishop W. B. Derrick led the speakers in eulo¬ gizing the work of Dr. Walker, and urging him to withdraw his resignation tendered to Mt. Olivet Church. The speakers on the program were men of note of all denominations and leading poli¬ ticians who, as a rule, take no interest in religion. "Dr. Walker's friends in Augusta, white and colored, can but feel gratified at l is success in the North and the high regard which he has won from all classes. The Baptists of Georgia are ardently attached to Dr. Walker, and if he decides to return to his old charge, they will receive him back with open arms." Testimonials similar to the above could be multiplied by the score. North, South, Hast and West, Dr. Walker is a man well spoken of by white and black, pub'ican and sinner. CHAPTER XIX. ANECDOTES. It is one of the unwritten laws of American civilization that the public has a right to get off jokes on leading public servants, whether they are clergymen, statesmen, business men or what not. Very often this habit of caricaturing our ablest men by cartoons and jokes is carried to extremes; but within proper limits, if it is possible to define what is proper in such a matter, there seems to be no objection to it among those who may be the victims. It is true that sometimes a joke, if founded on facts, will go further in illustrating a man's real disposition than perhaps anything else. At any rate, it is customary to include in every biography a chap¬ ter giving the anecdotal side of the subject's life. That rule will not be departed from in this case. "the black sturgeon." On one occasion Dr. Walker was preaching before the Walker Baptist Association down in Georgia. In the middle of his dis¬ course, and at the close of one of his most thrilling flights of elo¬ quence, an old colored man, in a frenzy of excitement, rose to his feet and exclaimed: "My Gawd! No wonder dey call him de Black Sturgeon!" The old man evidently had mistaken the word "Spurgeon" for the word "Sturgeon." In speaking of the matter afterwards, Dr. 1/ L 172 Life of Dr. Walker. Walker said, with a good-natured laugh, "Well, I'm glad he did not class me with the small fish." READING AND COUNTING FOR NEGROES. Once a Georgia Negro carried a letter to Dr. Walker and asked him to read it for him. Dr. Walker complied with his request. Two or three days later, the same man cam; Lack and said: "Doc, you sho did read my letter all right. I took it to two white men since, and dey read the same things dat you did." Somewhat later, another colored man came to Dr. Walker and asked him how much was 9 x 70. Dr. Walker told him 630. A few days later the colored man returne 1 and raid: "Doc, you know de udiali day, I axt you how much was 9 x 7°, an' you told me 630. Well, I axt Capt. Jones (a white man) about it and he told me de same thing. I tell you, Doc, you sho knows how to count." In telling these stories, Dr. Walker alwa)s makes the point that it is very difficult to get the average Negro to believe another Ne¬ gro unless some white man will endorse what the colored man says. It seems to be an old and foolish way Negroes were taught during slavery. PRAYING FOR MONEY. Dr. Walker believes in praying for everything. In 1886, when in Boston trying to raise money to ass'.st hin wit'i his church work at Augusta, he was rooming with Mr. Charl s A. Dryscoll, who was at that time a student in the New England Conservatory of Music. One Saturday night Mr. Dryscoll noticed that several times during the night Dr. Walker got out of the bed. He asked him if he was sick. Dr. Walker replied, "No." Once, while Mr. Dryscoll watched to see v>hat called him from the bed so often, Life of Dr. Walker. 173 he found him kneeling by a chair in prayer. He spent nearly the whole night in prayer . The next morning (Sunday morning) he went to the First Baptist Church, of which Dr. P. S. Moxom was then pastor, and made an appeal to the congregation for Belp. He secured $109.00 in cash an 1 many pledges. Dr. Wal¬ ker always referred to that contribution as prayer money. praying for converts. Once at Augusta he commenced his revival services by making a request of the people that they would prav that the Lord would give them 200 converts during the meeting. At the close of six weeks' work the number of converts was found to be 325. But in a short while a large number of these converts proved such mis¬ erable failures as Christians, Dr. Walker said, if God would for¬ give him, he never would pray again for 200 converts, and he said that he did not want anybody else to pray that prayer in Taber¬ nacle Church. He thought that the best thing to dq was to pray for so^ls, and leave the number with God. about jay birds. Dr. Walker relates with great pleasure that, when lie was a boy, he mad2 it his business to kill every jay bird h* saw. He said that the old folks had told him that he would never see any jay birds around en Fridays, beca-s^ 01 Fi^ays all the jay birds went to carry sand to hell. So he made up his mind to kill e/ery one he could, in order .hat the number of jay birds engaged in the sand-carrying business would be decreased. He was a man. nearly grown before he found out that his ardor in attempting to kill off all the jay birds was prompted by an "old wife's fable," a myth, one of the many hundred superstitious notions that prevailed among the old-time colored people. KEY. CHARGES T. WALKER AT FORTY YEAKS OF AGE. Life of Dr. Walker. 175 early religious impressions. Dr. Walker's first recollection of any religious emotions run back to the period of his early childhood. He remembers how every Sunday night all the servants would gather in the hall of the "Big House," and hold a prayer-meetinj with the "old mas¬ ter," a Dr. Samuel Clark, leading the service. He used to go with his mother to these meetings. The fist hymn he ever heard ""lined" and sung, i. e., the first hymn that he remembers, was the good, old fashioned hymn beginning;. "When I can read my title clear." He remembers well the edition th.n used had tV.esc words: "And hellish darts be hurled," Instead of the present rendition, which has these words: "And fiery darts be hurled." electing a church treasurer. Dr. Walker and the late Rev. T. J. Hornsby were once invited by a country church in Burke County, Ga., to conduct an election of officers. Bro. Hornsby acted as moderator. The custom of, the church, as was true of many others, had been to elect two members to see alter the money. One man carried the key, and the other man kept the box. As a rule, the money was counted and the box locked in the presence of the deacons. As a farther precaution, the man with the box was not allowed to carry the key. When the time came to elect the treasurer, Dr. Walker ex¬ plained to the c urch that it wculd be best to elect one man as treasurer and make him responsible for both box and key. 'He told them that the time« had passed for them to continue the old cus¬ tom of electing two men. Some at first were not inclined to favor this new departure. One or two members made speeches against 176 Life of Dr. Walker. it and said that it wculd never d , but the irajority of those pres¬ ent voted to adopt the suggestion, and accordingly one man was elected treasurer. Rev.- Hornsby, when he declared the election, thinking to add a humorous touch to the situation, said: "Now, Brother Jenkins is your treasurer. He will have both the box and the key. He can open the box whenever he wants to, and take out what he,pleases." Quick as a flash, n old bro her, mc of the opposers, rose to his feet and exclaimed: "Dar now; you bear dat! I knowed when we sont fer Brer Hornsby and Dr. Walker dat dere was gwineter be de devil to play hers to-day! Dog my cat, I tol' you so, and you wouldn't listen at me, and now hit's too late!" DR. walker'S COMPLEXION. While in Londo"1, on h's way to the Holy Land, Dr. Walker* in company with Prof. M. J. Maddox, one of his traveling com¬ panions, went.to a barber shop to get a shave. Evidently the bar¬ ber had never seen Negroes befo e, and was very much aston¬ ished. He noticed that Mr. Maddox was several shades lighter as to nis color than Dr. Walk r. S peaking to the latter about this, the barber asked, "Why is it that you've got so much more com¬ plexion than your friend?" He wanted to know of course, why Dr. Walker was so much darker than Mr. Maddox, and that is the way he put it. When the barber had nearly finished his work, he said to Dr. Walker, "I'd like to shave you all the time, your hair is so curly." Americans would speak of Dr. Walker's hair as woolly. the; negro a novelty. In Heidelberg, Mayence, Cologne and other places, Dr. Walker Life of Dr. Walker. 177 and Dr. Carter were the observed of all observers. Hundreds of people would gather about them and inspect their clothing and feel their skin. In Brussels, in a few minute: after they left th; station and reached the streets, a crowd of nearly 500 people gathered around and plied them with all sorts of q -e tions. They were asked what was the cause of the'r blackness; they were asked whether the devil made them black; cne man wanted to kno,v if every¬ body where they came from was black; some wanted to know if their, color would wash off; another asked why the palms of. their hands were so much lighter than the backs of th ir l ands; and so on almost without limit. When they started down the street, hundreds of children followed them the same as if th y were fol¬ lowing a circus. Thev children gladly carried the traveling bags, bundles, and walking canes, umbrellas, etc.—anything to keep up with the strange men. Writing about this to his newspaper at Augusta, Ha., Dr. Walker said: "In America the Negro is a problem; in Europe he is a novelty." 12 CHAPTER XX. APPEARANCE, MANNERS, HABITS. The Rev. Dr. Walker stands live feet seven inches in his stock¬ ings. He weighs 160 pounds. He has a peculiar stoop in his shoulders, not from age, but from a constitutional pliancy of his back-hone, aided by his early habit of incessant reading. In walking, he has a peculiar swaying or swinging gait. Seen from behind, he looks, as he walks with head depressed, bended back, and swaying gait, like an old man. But the expres i n of his face is singularly and engagingly youthfiil. A smile plays ever on his countenance. The pleasant, youngish looking face is in marked contrast with his head, which is prematurely gray. Some- times in referring to his gray hairs, Dr. Walker says that they can¬ not be signs of hard work or trouble, because he was told by his mother that he had a number of gray hairs in his . ead i. his in- fancv. Fis skin is very dark, but there are many very much darker men among the colored people. He never would tie taken for a great man, judging from his appearance. Not a large man in stature, without a commanding appearance, he never would be looked at for the second time when one passes him on the street and never would be taken for one of the world's most famous preachers in any large gathering with other distinguished men. It is when he begins to speak that the latent powers of the mart are at once apparent to the close student of human nature ana 178 Life of Dr. Walker. 179 the practiced observer of men. Wlhen seated, he is like a sea at rest, calm and undisturbed; when on his feet, he is like the sea in action, or like some dictator suddenly sent from another world to correct the faults and foibles of this world. In manner he is still, to some extent, a rustic. His world-wide travel, his acquaintance with some of the greatest and best of earth and his life in the metropolis of America, have not been able to make much impression upon him. He is an unassimilated man. Great, indeed, are the assimilating powers of the large cities. A youth will go to New York or Boston, awkward, ill- dressed, bashful, and capable of bein/y surprised. After only a few years' absence, he returns to his country home a changed be¬ ing; his clothes, his accent, his affectations, and his manners are "City-made." His friends do not recognize him at first sight. They do not quite understand his language when he speaks. All his ways are changed. He is another man. It is so with most, but not with all. Some men there are—very few, yet some—who resist effectually or, one might say, unconsciously, and to the last, the assimilating influence of the large cities. They are the oddities, the stared-at, the men of whom anecdotes are told. There is one thing, though, which can be said of ;hem which cannot be said of the other class; there is no affection about them—they do not put on. Everywhere and all the time, Dr. Walker keeps to his Southern training and his Southern s'yle. "I am not a society man," he often says, "and you can'ict expe:t me to be up 01 eti¬ quette and decorum, and all those fool things." When asked to do the honors at some wedding feast, or sit down and enjoy a sumptuous repast in courses, he has been heard to say, "I am not used to that kind of thing, and I cannot get above my raising." 180 Life of Dr. Walker. But it must not be thought that because it is admitted that he is still a rustic in some things that he is at all boorish, unmannered or impolite. No man enjoys the society of people, the intercourse of men, the mutual exchange and interchange of ideas and opin¬ ions more than he does, and he would not be likely to mistake finger-bowl for drinking purposes. But his politeness is the po¬ liteness of tact and good common sense rather than the politeness of the books and of so-called high society. In some respects he is exceedingly frank: in others, no man is more reserved. He likes company and likes to talk about the things which interest him most, and there are thousands of living mortals who will testify that they have never found any man in general conversation more interesting or more entertaining than he. In Georgia, where people are always very democratic in their ways, for hours and hours great crowds of men, old and young, have considered it a privilege and an honor to be permit¬ ted to stand in some barber shop or drug store or grocery store and listen to Dr. Wa'ker talk. It is very difficult for him to go one square' in his home town without bein;^ stopoed by somebody who really has no other motive than just to bear him talk, ' When one succeeds in detaining him for a little while, that is usually the sfig'nal for others to join the number, and by this process it is not long be.ore Dr. Walker has been intercepted and made to talk. Such a thing would disturb and annoy an ordinary man. But wl en be is asked if it does not tire him to be worried out by people wbo merely want to take up his time in talking, he says: "It pleases them, and it doesn't hurt me." He loves a joke—not likes, but loves—and tells a comic story with great glee. His Life of Dr. Walked. •181 cheerfulness is habitual, and probably he never knew two conseo utive hours of melancholy in his life . . . He .possesses one of the most remarkable memories for names and faces that God has ever given to any man. At one time his membership in Augusta consisted of more than 1,20 o persons, and he knew them all by name, and could call their names as soon as he saw them anywhere and at anytime. In Augusta, with a population of 15,000 colored people, more or les-, he knows more than half of them by name. The same is true of the people in the country districts in and around Augusta where h" has been. He knows the leading men and women in religious, political, and edu¬ cational circles throughout the state and nation, and can call their names without a moment's hesitation, tell where they are, and what they are doing; in many instances, he knows about their past, about their family connections, about mv difficulties they may have had. Of course, this wonderful power of memory must of necessity stand him in good stead in his s irmon prepara ion, in his delivery of sermons, and in his literary work; but it is little short of wonderful how one man could, in the first place, know so much about so many people, and, in the second place, how, if he did know, he could remember it all, even to the smallest detail. Though humble, meek, modest almost to the point of shyness, there is nothing of obsequiousness about him. It is not his way to bow and scrape and cater to any man, while at the same time he has1 a becoming respect for the deeds of men and r.ever fails to praise a fellow-mortal for the good' that he does. But he hates hypoc¬ risy, he hates cringing. He has never found it necessary to go out of the way to speak with any of the great men of the world with whom he has come in contact or who have attended his meet- 182 Life of Dr. Walker. ings in various places from time to time. Sometimes, when he has been told that Mr. So-and-So (a person of some influence) is in the audience, he has replied, "Give him my number, please; if he desires to call. I shall be glad to see him." He is not what may be called a b:okish preacher—that is to say, his sermons do not smell of the lamb. His sermons are, neverthe¬ less, always carefully prepared beforehand, but it is a prepara¬ tion of prayer, Bible reading' and meditation. He goes to the pul¬ pit from his l.nees, and has often been heard to sa}T, "I know what I am going to say before I come into the pulpit; I know the hymns I am going to sing,, the chapter that I am going to read, and I know where the text is to be found." His favorite source of information outside of the Bible is the daily newspaper. He always reads with an eye sigle to the use he can make of the news in his preaching or in his public addresses. In this way, he keeps abreast of the times, and frequently has well-matured opin¬ ions on important matters, and many times has spoken of them in public before some other ministers have heard of them. When he enters the pulpit, free from the narrowness that muts come to the man who uses only his Bible commentary, he seems to feel himself under divine compulsion to deliver a message of tanscendent importance to dying men; there is an air about him of a soldier who has a divine cmt: mission to fight a great battle for humanity. He speaks directly to the hear.1-, in language all hearts can understand. Humor and pathos, pleading and scorn, impas¬ sioned exhortation and cutting- sarcasm, all are used in hi a dis¬ courses with tremendous effect. That he is a man of unpretentious habits and winning manners is evidenced by the great love manifested toward him by the chil- Life of Dr. Walker. 183 dren in the city of Augusta, where he lived so long. Even the children know him and call him by name, and it is an honor with¬ out dissimulation, and a -tribute without sinister motives that the little children pay when they run in great crowds at light of the affable preacher, crying' as they run, "Howdv, Brer Walker?" "Howdy, Brer Walker?" Many times Dr. Walker will stop and talk with them, ask after their mothers and fathers, and also about their schooling; often he will tell them a little story, and then in¬ vite them to church and Sunday school the following Sunday. CHAPTER XXI. TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS. One of the leading c1-arrets istics that may be mentionel in speaking of Dr. Walker's traits is this: He is accustomed to bear injuries and insults with great patience and forb:a ance. All the great men of earth from the time of Christ to the present day have been isubjected to calumny, abuse, contumely, and misrepresentation in some form or other. George Washing¬ ton, during his second administration, wa< called a traitor, be¬ cause he would not go to war with England. Ep'th ts were ap- applied to him which would hardly have been applied to a Nero, a notorious defaulter, or a common pickpocket. Abraham Lincoln was called a poltroon, a hypocrite, because he was deliberate, painstaking and cautious about issuing the Emancipation Procla¬ mation. Horace Greeley, who, with his paper, the New York- Tribune, did more than any other individual in America to bring about the abolition of slavery, was most bitterly denounced by the American people, because he dared to go on the bond of Jefferson Davis, the animosity and vituperation having reached their climax in his campaign against Grant for the presidency. Henry Ward Beecher, who was without a peer in the American pulpit, was hounded down by the venomous tongue of slander and dragged into court on an infamous charge. Dwight L. Moody had his bitter with his sweet. On his first evangelistic campaign in Life of Dr. Walker. 185 Europe the papers boldly asserted that he was i:i the employ of P. T. Barnum, the great show man, and that he was making thousands for his own use out of a credulous public. His issuing of the "Moody and Sankey Hymn Book" was declared to be a huge money-making venture, and people were advised not to purchase it. The great and good William McKinley, the patient, praying President, was most bitterly assailed, his motives most bitterly impunged, and he was called "the puppet president," "the tool," "the manakin." President Roosevelt has said that the man who has not made mistakes is the man who has not done any¬ thing. It might be srid with equal truth that the man who has not been assailed.and opposed is the man who his not done any¬ thing. How could Dr. Walker escape? A man's character is not evinced by the manner in - hich he is sland red and abused and traduced, nevertheless; but a man's character is shown by the manner in which he accepts misrepresentation and abuse and slander. Dr. Walker has the courage which faces difficulties, braves rebuke and contumely, is not afraid of harsh names and ugly epithets; the courage that can look danger and persecution in the face and not shrink before them, brave before ridicule not less than before threatening; the rare courage which in the dis¬ charge of duty is not afraid of what men shall say. Though he likes popularity—and who does not ?—yet no consideration of pub- ' lie favor can' frighten him from speaking his mind, from saying what he believes to be true, from saying what he believes that the people ought to hear. Such courage is of a higher order than ' an animal instinct, more difficult to maintain, and more trying to a sensitive soul. The bravery that bears misunderstanding is more radical than the bravery that returns blows or fights battles. He 186 Life of Dr. Walker. has repeatedly said that he has tried to make these words the motto of his life: ' I am determined never to be guilty of ingrati¬ tude ; never to desert a friend; never to st ike back at an enemy." I have known Dr. Walker intimately for more than twenty years. I have eaten with him, slept with him, traveled with him, prayed with him, forked with him, played with him; I have known sone of the indignities, which have been heape 1 upon him, and some of the hard things, which he has been called upon to bear; and I truly believe that, in his dealings with those who have wronged him, as well as in his dealings with humanity in general, he is the most Christlike man I ever kne v. He comis nearer fulfilling in his own life and person the divine injunction, "Love ycur en¬ emies ; do good to them that despitefully use you," than any man of my extended acquaintance. Perhaps the following admonit'on and advice sent to me by him in a letter at a time of great trial in my own life, will better sITow I-is character on this point than any¬ thing 1 could say. Here is what he said: "You must expect that some will misrepresent b^th your conduct and your motives. You must expect that your best efforts will be thwarted bv the folly or wickedness of those whom you prop:se to serve. it so. Spend no time or strength in unavailing regrets. Spend no time or strength in repelling the attempted injury. Go forward in the way of duty. Let your uniform good conduct be your defence. Time is the great corrector. Your conduct will one day be seen in its true light. If not, God always sees it in its true light, and will reward every man, according to his works." These were noble words from a noble soul. God does not call his' ministers- to seats of ease, nor yet to the enjoyment of undisturbed com¬ forts. Their duties are of such a nature and their environment Life of Dr. Walker. 187 is so peculiar that such a call in this life is impossible. Indeed* it often happens that the more faithful a minister is to his divine vocation, the more bitter will be the cup he is called upon to drain. Had it been otherwise, the name of many a noble man of God, en¬ shrined in the hearts of millions of the race, would never have been heard beyond his parish boundaries. In every church, even those conducted on sound principles, there are a few polyphagous members whom no gospel preacher can supply. They are ever restive, ever seeking after novelties, ever grumbling", ever finding fault. Dr. Walker has1 met people of this class in his pastoral work, and he has won them by love and kindness. He has proved in this way that the word of the Master is true, "I/Ove your ene¬ mies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven." Humility is also a distinguishing trait in the character of Dr. Walker. The beauty of humility is delightfully displayed in him, and its influence is extensively felt and acknowledged. Hence, arise the love and respect so> generally entertained for him. It has been remarked that scarcely any persoi could be in his pres¬ ence for an hour without loving him. There has always been about him a beautiful unmindfulness of himself while engaged in his life-work. In this respect he is different from many, for self- consciousness and solicitous guardianship over their own rights and honors characterize mankind in general. At the recent meeting in Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, held to protest against his returning to labor with his old church at Augusta, one of the most prominent young men of the church spoke in substance as follows: "I want to confess something here that I have never be- 188 Life of Dr. Walker. tiore told, anybody, not eyen Dr. Walker. Dr. Walker has done more to take false pride out of me than any man living. The other day I was going down Broadway, and I passed Dr. Walker. I stopped and shook his hand, arid being somewhat in a hurry, kept on down the street. Shortly after I had passed him I met "a young man whom I knew well, but he wasn't well dressed—in fact, he was dressed very shabbily—and I didn't want to speak to him. I turned my head away from him, so as to keep from speaking. I looked back to see if Dr. Walker would speak to him. Dr. Walker stopped and shook that young man's hand and stood up in Broadway, with all the people going by, to talk with 'him, and Dr. Walker seemed just as glad to see him as he had been to see me. I learned a lesson from that scene that I will never forget." Dr. Walker, also, has a responsive feeling of gratitude for mercies and favors received. This spirit is always associated with true humility; for in proportion to the Christian's sense of his own unworthiness, is his thankfulness for those supplies which he forfeited by his rebellion. Dr. Walker views every blessing, both temporal and spiritual, as coming to him immediately from the hand of God through the mediation of Jesus Christ. ' Christian charity pre-eminently adorns the character of Dr. Walker. The love which glows in Dr. Walker's heart was evi¬ dently enkindled by the Holy Ghost, and has produced a cordial feeling of good-will toward all men, of whatever grade or country, of whatever party or sect. While he is an ardent and uncompro¬ mising Baptist, his treatment of other Christian denominations is fraternal and appreciative; his spirit is broad and catholic: there is nothing ultra-sectarian in his make-up. Those who love him Life of Dr. Walker. 189 because of this are found in the Methodist'church, the Congte-' gational church, the Presbyterian church, the Episcopalian church, the Baptist church, and in all churches and in no churches. IJe has a tender fellow-feeling for the poor and af¬ flicted, and has many times denied himself lawful gratifications for their sake. He has cheerfully submitted to any service, and thought nothing too low or too mean, in which to engage, if there¬ by he could benefit either the souls or bodies of men. There are other features which ought to be mentioned. Clear¬ ness of vision, capacity for hard work and quick de isions, exec¬ utive force, the ability to guide the thoughts and energ'es of o'hrr men into the same channel as his own, and thus unite their force with his, and his mastery of details, are conspicuous elements in his character. Charles T. Walker has Hs faults, like other men. These are not to be overlooked, and I mention this fact, in closing this chap¬ ter, in order to say that Charles T. Walker is not a perfect man. A perfect man has not trod this planet since Christ left it. It is said of Charles Lamb, that he liked his friends, not in spite of their faults, but faults and all. And Charles Lamb was no less right than kind. The errors of a true man are not discreditable to him, for his errors spring from the same source as his excellencies. Moreover, it is very difficult to judge character. Generally speak¬ ing, those who are familiar with a man are blind to his faults, and those who are not intimate are blind to his virtues. Still, in sum¬ ming up the traits and characteristics of Dr. Walker, it may be truthfully said that he is no ordinary man, and that one would be compelled to search among sinful mortals many and many a day before he would find one man who, in all respects, possesses 190 Life of Dr. Walker. more of the traits of genuine honor, manhood and sterling worth than does the present pastor of the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, New York City. CHAPTER XXII. CONCLUSION. Of the countless gifts which God bestows upon man, fie rarest, the most divine, is an ability to take supreme interest in human welfare. If any pious soul will accurately ascertain whit it is in the character of the Man Christ Jesus, the contemplation of which fills his heart with rapture and his eyes with tears, that pious soul will know what is here meant by the expression "supi eme interest in human welfare." Most of us, alarmed at the dangers which be¬ set our lives, distracted with cares, blinded with desires to secure our own safety, are absorbed in schemes of personal advantage. Only a few men go apart, ascend the heights, survey the scene with serene, utiselfish eye, and make discoveries which those en¬ gaged in their own selfish pursuits could never arrive at. But for such, the race of mankind would long ago have extirpated itself in its mad, blind strife. But for such, it never would have been discovered that no individual can be safe in welfare while any oth¬ er individual is hot. In summing up the life story of Dr. Walker, I ask myself what it is that has given this man of God such a place in the affection, regard and sincere esteem of those who know and love and honor him. Is it mere intellectual ability? Great as is his intellectual strength, there are many men in his same calling of greater intel¬ lect. hut thev are not known and loved as he is. Is it official sta- 1D1 192 Life of Dr. Walker. tion ? He holds no office except that of an humble minister of the gospel. Is it wealth ? Dr. Walker is a poor man. In his case, I believe that the secret lies in active Christian charity, or what might be called the magnetism of simple goodness. I need not say that Dr. Walker's heart is as large as1 his brain—that love for humanity is an inwrought element of his nature. It is manifested in a kindness and regard that keep a silent record in many hearts; irj a hand ever open and ready to help; in one of the kindest faces over worn by man, *he expression of which is i "A meeting of gentle lights without a name." How. wide, how manifold is the circle of interests which he has touched! How many, many minds ha.s he instructed with practi¬ cal wisdom ! How many lives has he stimulated * to wholesome, energy! How many young men greatfully acknowledge him as their teacher and guide! How many aged people, how many or¬ phans have looked up to him - for succor! < How many precious souls have been saved for truth, for righteousness, for God! His pen never idle, his lips never still his feet never weary, what a blessing he. has been to his day and generation! In his eyes, the noblest career is that which is given up to others' wants. The successful life is that which is worn cut In ccnfl'ct with wrong and woe. The only ambition worth following is the ambition to al¬ leviate human misery and leave the world better—a little better for one's having lived in it. And this, verily, is the greatness which the world at last ac¬ knowledges, confesses, honors—the greatness of goodness. Those who read this story of Dr. Walker's life ought, therefore, to be en¬ couraged, not discouraged, because the greatness of goodness is a communicable power for the goodness of mankind and, unlike Life of Dr. Walker. 193 intellectual power, unlike official station, unlike wealth, may be attained by all. Let the reader, then, drink from this story in¬ spiration for his best endeavors, while he thanks God that the achievement in Dr. Walker's case has been so large and so effect¬ ive. The real forces of the world are not those which sfcience chiefly delights to celebrate, but those other inward spiritual forces, such as righteousness, justice and truth, which lie behind the more visible energies, giving them all the real power that they possess, and guiding them, not blindly, but intelligently, to rational and beneficent ends.